The Headmaster of Deo-Gratias International School, Gwarimpa, Abuja, Akindiose Wande, has urged parents to inculcate cultural values in their children, to protect indigenous cultural heritage.
Wande, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that good moral upbringing was necessary to enable children to contribute meaningfully to the socio-cultural development of the society.
“Children should be introduced to the cultural values of the society for them to relate well with people of different social classes,” Wande said.
The headmaster said parents should teach their children indigenous languages to help promote the country’s cultural heritage.
He said other ways of promoting Nigeria’s cultural heritage included the consumption of local foods, which were healthier than the processed foods.
“The younger generation should also dress traditionally to promote indigenous culture,” Wande said.
He, however, advised parents to always visit their villages with their children to help keep them abreast with the norms and values of their communities.
The headmaster said that parents should also demonstrate acts of tolerance in their everyday lives to serve as examples for their children to follow.
“Parents’ attitude of respecting others is often so much a part of them that they rarely even think about it. So, they must realise that this is a way of life that they must teach their children to imbibe,” Wande said.
He, however, said that tolerance was often taught in subtle ways so that it would be easy for children to imitate if well practised by parents.
He said that parents should also promote culture by giving their young ones local foods to make them appreciate and place values on them. (NAN)
