Alayande Varsity Social Studies and Civic Education Department Marks International Day of Families
The Vice-Chancellor, Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, Prof. Olanrewaju Olaniyan has hammered the need to value the existence of families, as the place of family in human existence cannot be under-emphasized. The Vice-Chancellor spoke at the 2026 International Day of Families organised by the Department of Social Studies and Civic Education. According to the University don, "human existence starts and ends with families. When we were born, we were surrounded with families. When we die, families would still surround us. We must therefore ensure that we keep in touch with our individual families irrespective of whatever we are facing. I therefore congratulate the Department of Social Studies and Civic Education for blazing the trail in joining the international community in celebrating the International Day of Families".
Earlier in his welcome address, the Head, Department of Social Studies and Civic Education, Dr. 'Wole Adedigba acknowledged the support of the Vice-Chancellor and his Management team for the department. He established that the celebration was the first of its kind in the history of the department, and promised to sustain it. The Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences Education, Prof. Olalekan Ojedokun harped on the importance of families and commended the department for bringing his teacher, Dr. Omowumi Akin-Onigbinde as the Guest Lecturer.
Speaking at the event, the Guest Lecturer, Dr. Omowumi Akin-Onigbinde appreciated the Department of Social Studies and Civic Education for finding her worthy to deliver the historic lecture. In her lecture titled, "Families Inequality and Child Well-being". She submitted that in Nigeria, a child’s wellbeing is tightly linked to where they’re born, what family they’re born into, and what resources that family can access. The extended family system, according to her provides resilience, but it cannot fully offset macro-level inequality. Policies that combine direct cash support with investments in health, education, and social protection have the most potential to close the gap.
"Families are the immediate context for child development, but they’re embedded in a larger system of inequality. You can have the most dedicated parents, but if there’s no school within 5km or no clinic within 20km, the child’s outcomes will suffer."
"The good news is that this is not fixed. Evidence from Nigeria and globally shows two things work best together: direct support to families like cash transfers and parenting programs, plus structural investment in health and education infrastructure."
For Nigeria to improve child wellbeing at scale, the focus must be on reducing regional disparities and ensuring that poor families have access to the same foundation of health, nutrition, and learning that wealthier families can provide on their own", she submitted.
Dr. Omowumi Akin-Onigbinde who had with her, Mrs. Olubisi Yomi-Layinka, is the Executive Director, Citizenship Education & Women Empowerment Initiatives [CEWEIN] was a former dosen at the defunct St. Andrew's College of Education, Oyo. It was indeed a home-coming for her as she was glad to see some of her former students at the event.
Dignitaries at the celebration were the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Olaniyan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibrahim O. Salawu, Registrar, Mrs. Olubunmi Siju' Asunmo, University Librarian, Dr. Olatundun O. Oyewumi, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. Olalekan Ojedokun, Head, Department of Social Studies and Civic Education, Dr. 'Wole Adedigba, eminent academics and non-teaching staff and members of the University community.
'Wale Adeoye
Media and Public Relations Officer,
Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo
22 May 2026