By Staff Reporter
The First Lady of Edo State, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, has pledged support for the Edo Digital Parenting Initiative, describing it as a strategic intervention aimed at strengthening families and equipping parents to effectively navigate the challenges of the digital age.
Mrs. Anani, Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, made the commitment when she received the Team Leader of The Genius Learning and Development Company, Dr. Tejiri Chunu, and members of his team during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City.
She said the increasing exposure of children to digital technology, coupled with their growing curiosity and technological awareness, made it imperative for parents to adopt new approaches to communication, understanding and responsible technology use.
According to her, traditional parenting methods that largely depended on restricting children or shutting down conversations were no longer sufficient in addressing the realities of modern society.
She stressed the need for parents to evolve with changing social and technological trends, noting that effective digital parenting should promote open communication while ensuring children are protected from online risks.
Mrs. Anani disclosed that the initiative would be driven through her pet project, the Better Life Empowerment and Care Foundation (BeLiEF and Care), with plans to explore partnerships with government agencies, development partners, corporate organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
She added that the digital parenting initiative aligns with the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s efforts to invest in human capital development, promote digital literacy and prepare young people in the state to maximise the opportunities provided by technology while remaining protected from its potential dangers.
Earlier, Dr. Tejiri Chunu commended the First Lady for her sustained commitment to women, children and families, as well as the Edo State Government’s efforts to promote digital literacy and human capital development.
Chunu explained that digital parenting goes beyond restricting children’s access to smartphones and other digital devices.
He said it involves protecting, connecting with, guiding and empowering children to navigate online risks while maximising the educational, social and developmental benefits of technology.
