By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
Ilorin – Mr Abdulbaki Oba, the Deputy Bursar, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), says child hawking to make ends meet is not necessarily a negative activity, especially if the child is not prevented from schooling.
Oba made the assertion on Tuesday at the 9th Muktar Isale-Koto Annual Islamic Lecture held in the university.
“I and members of my age group in those days hawked to augment the family income while we were children, yet many of us turned out successful professionals,” he said.
He said that it was possible for a family to face economic recession even while the rest of the country was experiencing growth.
Oba also charged Muslim to restrain themselves from falling into the temptation of corruption, saying the vice was endemic among public servants.
Mallam Lukman Isale-Koto of the Bursary Unit of the university called for a paradigm shift in thinking that troublesome children were only fit for Islamic schools.
He urged managers of Arabic and Islamic institutions to upgrade their services by providing children-friendly environment conducive for learning.
Sheikh Muhydeen Al-Kubrah, the Chief Imam and Missioner of the UK-based Ansarul Rahman Islamic Association stressed the need for quality parenting.
“It is indispensable in our quest for national development,’’ he said.