Commentary: Fathers As Nation Builders

^{WRITTEN BY VEN. SOPULUCHUKWU UMEOJIAKA}
One of the most important creations of God is the man. He is the foundation of a family through the raising of the children, who later become the leaders of tomorrow as well as nation builders.

Fathers have great roles to play in building the nation. Through fathers, children have access to a vast lineage, including grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles as well as friends of the family, work colleagues, among others. Fathers plan the future of their children which, in turn, affects the moral, physical, psychological, social, political, religious and developmental tone of the nation.
For instance, a morally-bound family begets children who are well nurtured to conform to the dictates of the society. Such children, later in life, become the conscience of the nation; living examples to their peer groups. Such a nation can never be morally bankrupt or revel in social vices like armed robbery, kidnapping, fraudulent practices, among others, because its children have been brought up in a decent society devoid of these vices.
Many families rely on the incomes of both Mothers and Fathers. However, the fact remains that fathers provide the lion’s share of income. Moreover, father’s earnings are uniquely linked to many positive results for children, even when mothers’ earnings are taken into consideration. Although, Mothers and fathers often bring different strengths and styles to their parenting roles, they also complement each other which are necessary for healthy child upbringing.
Fathers play great roles in building the capacity of their children through basic education. In other words, they play crucial roles in guiding the development of their children. For instance, as their children grow, fathers take on added responsibilities of guiding their intellectual and social development. Psychologists agree that babies with attachments to their parents, particularly fathers, have better chances to develop into happy and successful adults. Naturally, children rely on their fathers to provide their basic needs, including dresses, shoes, school uniform, fees and textbooks, among others. As babies grow older, many prefer playing with their fathers who provide exciting interaction, which fosters healthy development of the baby’s brain and can have lasting effects on children’s social, emotional and intellectual development.
By encouraging children in primary and secondary schools to take on new challenges, fathers help them not only to learn new skills, but also to take responsibility for their own actions. Fathers with a strong commitment to their family provide a model of responsible behaviour for their children. Indeed, fathers usually have positive influence on their children’s sense of industry, competence and responsibility.
It must be noted that the rise and fall of a nation depends on the rise and fall of the family, which is headed by the man. The family is the basic unit of the society and is considered as the frontline security of the nation. If, therefore, the family is weak, so is the nation. Again, the family is the basic moulder of a nation’s culture and values. Thus, it is the duty of the father to rear their children for civic efficiency and development of moral character.
Therefore, fathers serve as the root of production of primary individuals who become priests, government and law enforcement agents, businessmen, journalists, teachers, lawmakers, governors, presidents, doctors among others. In addition to these roles, fathers ensure that future leaders are made from families who, as role models, would lead by example. They also mould the character of children who later become nation builders
Also, strong families build strong communities which in turn can build a strong nation. It is in the family that the youths first learn about moral and spiritual values, which give meaning to their leadership capabilities. Fathers also play other roles which steer their children on the path of good conscience, patriotism, moral rectitude, leadership and nation building. So, as the world marks the International Fathers’ Day today, it is expected that fathers will use the day to re-examine their roles in their various families and larger society and make corrections where necessary. Happy Fathers’ Day!