GOGE Africa Foundation, an educational organisation, has urged parents to protect their children from indoctrination and recruitment by terrorist organisations.
The Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Mr Isaac Moses, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.
According to Moses, terrorist organisations have hosted websites where they brainwash children and recruit new members.
“The problem the world is facing now is terrorism, it is a big threat to our livelihood, it is a big threat in the society and the community.
“It is so bad that it is the young people who have a lot to live for, that actually get encrypted into these organisations and they don’t know what they are doing.
“So, it is important that they are able to know because when they get encrypted through internet, they think they are surfing innocently.’’
He stressed the importance of good parenting in proper upbringing children, saying parents should not shy away from the responsibility.
“Good parenting has a major serious role to play but the children are not always with their parents. When they get home they have their parents to contend with.
“When they leave home, they go to school; they have their teachers to contend with.
“Then when they come out they now get to meet professionals that they will not otherwise meet in their school.
“Perhaps their parents are busy hustling, busy trying to put food on the table and don’t have time to really see if the children are towing the right paths.
“And when you catch children young and you are able to teach them the way to go even when they grow up, they will not deviate from it.’’
The foundation teaches African youths the history and heritage of the continent while creating awareness about social ills such as AIDS, child abuse/trafficking etc. and catering to the needs of the less privileged in the society.
Moses told NAN that the 9th edition of GOGE Africa Foundation for youths held on June 30 at the National Theatre was informed by some uncertainties in the country.
He said the aim of the foundation was to implant good behaviour in the youths.
“The idea is to catch young people and be able to change their mind set about cutting corners, so that they would know that it is not a crime to make the right choices.
“It is not a crime to work hard; it is not a crime to be proud of whom you are. You don’t have to look for short cuts at every point.
“We want to inculcate in the youths the culture of being discerning, being able to decipher what is good and bad.’’
He expressed the desire to continue organising programmes that will educate the youth on the importance of responsible living. (NAN)