James Emejo in Abuja
African governments have been implored to roll out social protection policies that empower and build the resilience of families in order to make the citizens less susceptible to social ills.
Education ministries of all African countries were also admonished not to yield to pressures to infiltrate the school curricula with inappropriate content that seeks to introduce children to sexuality.
These were some of the recommendations issued at the end of the fifth edition of the Strengthening Families Conference (SFC) which was held in Abuja, recently
With the theme: “Strengthening Marriages”, the conference sought to among other things address challenges currently confronting families and society in general as well exploring lasting solutions to these limitations.
The SFC is a non-denominational event sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints – and open to all denominations and religions, and has contributed immensely to promoting projects and programmes that support family units worldwide and with special reference to the West African Sub-Region.
The SFC also called on governments to resist the pressures by group who are anti-traditional marriages and families, and that government agencies and political leaders should endeavour to formulate policies that would not only strengthen families but protect traditional marriages.
Among other recommendations, the conference emphasised that couples should, as much as possible, avoid external interference in their families and marriages and learn to resolve their differences themselves without allowing a third-party intervention, unless absolutely relevant.
Couples were also advised to manage their emotion and anger to avoid degeneration to violence, adding that physical and emotional trauma should be avoided irrespective of the level of provocation and circumstances.
The conference further counselled that marriage outside the faith should be a decision carefully taken by the parties involved, with full understanding of what it entails and the complexities therein while discussions about finances should be a priority to couples to provide clear understanding of their financial status.
It added, “That in the situation of infertility, couples should be each other’s strength and explore together options, like medical solutions, adoption of children and others, with the view to overcoming the challenge.
“That families should bond together by holding family prayers and home evenings, dining together and engaging in family council to collectively address challenges faced by members.
“That couples should inculcate the spirit of tolerance, forgiveness, mutual trust, openness, fidelity and appreciation, shunning selfishness and pride.”
The conference also commended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for keeping faith in organizing the conference annually, committing resources and time, while encouraging the church to continue.
The church’s Director of Communication, West Africa Region, Mr. James Owusu-Ansah, told THISDAY, “We hope that we can work to bring some hope to families, especially in West Africa which is devastated by the various challenges that come from them and help them find hope in daily decisions and choices because that would make them strong and together, we forge ahead with unity.”
