The Parenting Conference 2025 Continues to Shape Conversations on Intentional Parenting

The Parenting Conference 2025, held on November 22, at Four Points by Sheraton, Victoria Island, Lagos, has continued to leave a lasting impact on parents, educators, and families across the country. The event, themed “Parenting for the Future: Raising Children to Lead, Succeed, and Make a Difference,” brought together thought leaders, parenting experts, educators, mental health professionals, and families to address the urgent need for intentional, future-focused parenting.

Held over three days, the conference provided a powerful platform for critical conversations on leadership development in children, mental and emotional wellbeing, education and parent–school collaboration, child safeguarding, and visionary parenting. Participants engaged in keynote sessions, panel discussions, fireside chats, and interactive conversations designed to equip parents with practical tools for raising well-rounded, confident, and purpose-driven children.

Speakers at the conference included Praise Fowowe, who addressed parenting as a tool for nation building; Debola Deji-Kurunmi, who spoke on raising children as agents of change; Taiwo Akinlami, who led a powerful session on collaborative safeguarding of children; Dr Gbonjubola Abiri, who spoke on how parents can prioritize their mental health while raising future leaders; Phinnah Chichi, who explored how parents can help teens build vision, values, and a voice; Chidinma Nwobi, who led a compelling session on the whole parent and how inner healing shapes the next generation; Ronke Adeniyi, who passionately spoke about getting children rooted in values, and Adeola Kingsley-James, who spoke about building healthy step-parent relationships that shape future-ready children. Each session offered practical tools and real-life insights for raising confident, purpose-driven children.

According to the convener, Sandra Oluwadare, the conference was created to move parenting beyond survival and routine. She emphasized that parents are not merely raising children to pass exams or meet societal expectations, but are shaping future leaders, nation builders, and change-makers. She further called on government agencies, corporate organizations, development partners, and stakeholders to partner in strengthening families, noting that “it takes a village to raise a child.” Oluwadare stressed that the family is the bedrock of society, and that healthy families are foundational to building a healthy, productive, and sustainable nation. She explained that investing in parenting and family support initiatives is not just a social responsibility, but a strategic investment in national development, workforce readiness, and long-term societal stability.

A major highlight of the conference was the official launch of three transformative initiatives created by the convener. These included Parenting Pitfalls, a book designed to guide families toward intentional, values-driven parenting; a parenting mobile app offering ongoing support, tools, and resources for parents; and a structured mentorship program for young people aged 13 to 25, focused on leadership development, personal growth, purpose discovery, and life skills. These initiatives were unveiled as long-term solutions to extend the impact of the conference beyond the event itself and provide sustained support for families and young people.

Another standout moment of the conference was the inclusion of preteen and teenage voices through the Voices of the Future panel, reinforcing the importance of listening to children, valuing their perspectives, and involving them in conversations about their future. Parents described the sessions as eye-opening, deeply reflective, and life-changing, while educators applauded the strong emphasis on partnership between homes and schools.

The conference also emphasized the role of parents as role models, encouraging adults to prioritize their own mental health, leadership development, and personal growth while raising children. Speakers shared personal stories, professional insights, and evidence-based strategies that participants continue to apply in their homes, schools, and communities.

With overwhelmingly positive feedback and sustained engagement, The Parenting Conference has positioned itself as more than an annual gathering. It has emerged as a growing movement committed to strengthening families, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and shaping the next generation of leaders for a stronger and healthier society.