Raising Responsible Adults: A Key to Good Parenting

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, fellow parents, teachers, community leaders, and especially our author, Dr Titilope Olorunyomi.

It is both an honour and a pleasure to be the Chairman at the public presentation of this important book, Raising Adults, Not Teenagers.

The title speaks a deep truth. Parenting is not just about managing teenage years; it is about preparing kids for adulthood. The real question we face is not how to raise obedient teenagers, but how to grow responsible adults who will positively impact their families, communities, and society.

As the Yoruba say, “Ọmọ l’ẹṣọ́ àwọn òbí”, children are the pride and legacy of their parents. In our culture, the true measure of successful parenting is not the wealth we gather, the houses we build, or the titles we earn. It is the quality of the children we leave behind.

Our ancestors expressed this wisdom beautifully in a song:

Bí o bá ní ogún ẹrú,

Bí o yá ìwọ̀fà ọgbọ̀n,

Ìjọ́ a bá kú o,

Ọmọ ni adé ẹni.

In English, this means:

“You may have great wealth and many followers;
Yet when your time on earth ends, such things fade away.
The true crown of a person is a worthy child.”

This timeless song carries a strong truth. Wealth can vanish. Titles may be forgotten. Influence can fade. But a child raised with integrity, good character, civic-mindedness, and hard work becomes a living legacy. Such a child honours the family, strengthens society, and inspires future generations.

This song reflects the ideal of Ọmọlúàbí. It reminds us that the best gift parents can leave behind is not material wealth but values. The greatest achievement we can have is not a house but a good human being. The finest crown for any parent is a child whose life shows character and purpose.

That, folks, is the main message of Dr Titilope Olorunyomi’s Raising Adults, Not Teenagers.

This book tells us that building character should be the main goal of parenting. It challenges us to move beyond the daily struggles of raising teenagers and focus instead on shaping the adults our kids will become.

In an article I wrote last year, I said the Yoruba idea of Ọmọlúàbí is based on four main values: integrity, good character, civic-mindedness, and hard work. These values are not just cultural; they are the basis for responsible citizenship and meaningful living.

What struck me while reading this book was how well these four values fit into Dr Olorunyomi’s message.

The first value is integrity. The author stresses the importance of consistency, accountability, honesty, and personal responsibility. She reminds parents that kids often adopt the values they see. Integrity can’t just be taught; it has to be shown through actions.

The second value is good character. The main point of this book is that parenting is really about building character. Respect, discipline, empathy, self-control, responsibility, and caring for others are qualities that need to be nurtured. In this way, the book speaks directly to the heart of Ọmọlúàbí.

The third value is civic-mindedness. Many think parenting is only about family, but the adults we raise today will shape the society we live in tomorrow. Kids who learn responsibility, respect for others, and concern for the common good grow into citizens who strengthen their communities and their country.

The fourth value is hard work. The author reminds us that skills, success, and resilience do not happen by chance. They come from effort, discipline, perseverance, and taking responsibility. These values are essential for young people to succeed in a competitive world.

In many ways, Raising Adults, Not Teenagers is a practical guide to raising Ọmọlúàbí children.

The Yoruba also say, “Igi ganganran má gun mi lójú; ohun tí mo bá fi ọwọ́ gbin ni yóò hù.” What we harvest depends on what we plant. If we want responsible, disciplined, compassionate, and trustworthy adults, we must start planting those values early and care for them consistently.

Today’s world has many challenges. Social media grabs attention. Technology causes distractions. Instant gratification is often praised, while patience and discipline are ignored. Yet through all these changes, one truth stays the same: character still matters.

No technology can replace integrity.

No online platform can take the place of good character.

No shortcut can erase the importance of hard work.

And no society can flourish without citizens who care about the common good.

That is why this book’s message goes beyond parenting. It speaks to nation-building. The future of any society depends greatly on the values taught to children.

If we want a Nigeria that is less corrupt, more productive, more caring, more accountable, and more united, we need to start at home. We must raise children who will become adults of character. We must build Ọmọlúàbí.

Dr Titilope Olorunyomi deserves our praise for writing a book that is practical, thoughtful, and very relevant to our times. She has given parents, teachers, counsellors, religious leaders, and anyone working with young people a useful resource for guiding the next generation.

I strongly recommend this book to every family and every institution that cares about the future of our children. It should not only be bought and read, but also discussed, applied, and shared.

I want to point out that the world is slowly losing the habit of deep reading. This is especially true for many in Generation Z. So, while congratulating the author, I also suggest she consider translating the lessons of this book into formats that fit today’s social media. This way, its message can reach even more people.

If we embrace the lessons in these pages, we will help create a generation known for integrity, good character, civic-mindedness, and hard work, the very qualities that make up the ideal Ọmọlúàbí.

May this book encourage us to raise not just teenagers, but responsible adults; not just successful people, but individuals of character; and not just achievers, but true Ọmọlúàbí. I believe that the Nigeria we desire will be within our reach if we follow the principles outlined in Dr Olorunyomi’s book.

I congratulate Dr Titilope Olorunyomi on this important contribution and wish for this book to reach as many readers as possible.