By Our Correspondent
OBINOMBA/Nigeria: Parents, teachers and communities have been challenged to become intentional role models whose attitudes, emotional stability and daily conduct shape children into confident, resilient and responsible citizens.
The charge was delivered by the Commissioning Manager of Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, Engr. Peace Ovili, while presenting the keynote address at the 2026 Chinonye Smile-Care Initiative Parents-Teachers Conference for Ukwuani Local Government Area.
Speaking on the theme, “Rebuilding the Fabric of Education: The Role of Parents, Teachers and Community,” Ovili said rebuilding education requires more than improved infrastructure and academic excellence, insisting that emotional development, intentional parenting and supportive learning environments are equally critical to raising well-rounded children.
Drawing from her personal interest in human behaviour, science and well-being, the keynote speaker described parents as the “hidden mirrors” through which children first discover themselves and understand the world around them.
According to her, children absorb far more from what adults do than from what they say, warning that parents who consistently display anxiety, perfectionism or unresolved frustration unknowingly pass those emotional patterns to their children.
“If your mirror constantly reflects anxiety, perfectionism or silent frustration, the child doesn’t just see it—they wear it. But when your life reflects resilience, empathy and grace, your child builds emotional strength from those same reflections,” she said.
Ovili noted that adolescence is one of the most critical stages of human development, explaining that scientific research shows the part of the brain responsible for logical reasoning and emotional regulation continues developing until about the age of 25.
She said this understanding should encourage parents and teachers to replace harsh judgment with patience, empathy and guidance as teenagers navigate identity, peer pressure and emotional challenges.
The engineer identified trust, emotional awareness and unconditional acceptance as the three pillars of intentional parenting.
She urged parents to trust their children, avoid excessive control and recognise that every child is a unique individual rather than an extension of parental ambitions.
She also encouraged parents to help adolescents identify and express their emotions instead of dismissing their feelings, stressing that emotional validation enables young people to process challenges more effectively.
Equally important, she said, is separating a child’s worth from academic performance.
“When parental approval depends only on report cards or achievements, children begin to believe that love must be earned. Love should never be transactional,” she emphasised.
The keynote speaker cautioned against behaviours that undermine children’s emotional development, including trivialising their problems, rushing to solve every challenge for them, expressing pride only after outstanding performance and responding to children’s emotional struggles with anger or panic.
She maintained that parents who invest in their own emotional healing and self-awareness create healthier environments for raising emotionally balanced children.
Addressing teachers, Ovili described schools as safe spaces capable of transforming lives, particularly for children from unstable or emotionally deprived homes.
She said educators do much more than teach academic subjects, noting that every classroom interaction contributes to shaping a child’s identity and confidence.
“A teacher’s classroom can become a sanctuary of emotional regulation. Teachers don’t just hand out grades; they hand out identity,” she remarked, urging educators to affirm the value of every learner regardless of academic ability.
Speaking directly to students, she encouraged them to embrace emotional maturity, remain authentic despite peer pressure and view setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than personal failure.
She reminded the young audience that poor examination results, criticism or rejection should never define their identity or determine their future.
“You may not be responsible for the anxieties passed down through previous generations, but you are responsible for how you pursue your own healing,” she said.
Ovili concluded by urging all stakeholders to consciously create environments where children feel accepted, valued and emotionally secure.
“Our teenagers are not looking for perfect parents or flawless teachers. They are simply looking for reliable mirrors. When life becomes overwhelming, they want to know they are still worthy,” she said.
The conference brought together parents, teachers, education stakeholders and community leaders from across Ukwuani Local Government Area to examine practical approaches to strengthening collaboration between homes, schools and communities in rebuilding educational standards and supporting the holistic development of children.
