Stakeholders demand more funding for parenting programmes in Akwa Ibom

Stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State are advocating for greater investment in evidence-based parenting programs to strengthen families and protect children. This call emerged from a dissemination workshop focused on the radio program "Parenting 101 with Isang" and strategies for enhancing parenting support throughout the state.

The workshop, organized by Parenting for Lifelong Health and the Global Parenting Initiative at the University of Oxford, brought together government officials, researchers, media professionals, child protection experts, and civil society organizations. Participants examined an independent evaluation of the radio program, which aims to make crucial parenting advice accessible through a widely reached medium.

Isang Awah, Head of Advocacy at the Global Parenting Initiative, highlighted parenting as a vital but often unsupported responsibility. She stated, "Parenting 101 with Isang was created to bridge this gap by making evidence-based parenting advice accessible through radio, a platform that reaches families where they are. When parents are supported, children thrive, families become stronger and communities become safer."

The Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare reaffirmed its commitment to child wellbeing. The evaluation of "Parenting 101 with Isang" presented encouraging findings, showing improvements in parents' knowledge, confidence, and adoption of positive parenting practices. Stakeholders emphasized the media's role in driving social change and called for expanded collaboration, interactive programming, and sustained investment in parenting support initiatives.

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Parenting 101 with Isang was created to bridge this gap by making evidence-based parenting advice accessible through radio, a platform that reaches families where they are. When parents are supported, children thrive, families become stronger and communities become safer.