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By Emmanuel Adeleke
A group of researchers, Non-Governmental Organisations and grassroots communities have called on governments and stakeholders to address the challenges confronting families in Africa.
The researchers, under the auspices of Strengthening Capacity for Research and Policy Engagement in shifting Notions of Motherhood and Fatherhood for Improved Children’s Wellbeing in Africa (SCaRPE-A) Project, in partnership with Ibadan School of African feminist studies at WORDOC made the call at a dissemination workshop, themed, ‘Changing notions of identity,’ held the University of Ibadan (UI).
The team, comprising of researchers from University of Western Cape, South Africa; University of Witswatersarand, South Africa; University of Rwanda; University of Moi, Kenya; and University of Ibadan, Nigeria, all under the auspices of the Notions of Identity Center of Excellence, Makerere University, Uganda, was worried about shifting notions of motherhood, fatherhood, parenting and how these have each rubbed off on the wellbeing of children in Africa.
In her welcome address, the Coordinator of WORDOC, Dr. Sharon Omotosho, who disclosed that SCaRPE-A officially started in 2020 but was delayed by the outbreak of COVID-19, said the project was meant to see how notions of parenting–idea behind motherhood, fatherhood, parenting are changing and its effect on wellbeing of children.
She said the project was conducted by 18 career researchers from University of Western Cape, South Africa; University of Witswatersarand, South Africa; University of Rwanda; University of Moi, Kenya and University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
In a report put together at the end of their research, they resolved that concepts of family, motherhood, fatherhood and parenting have widened beyond the conventional understanding, calling on educators, religious organisations, and government bodies to keep this in view as they navigate ordering and re-ordering society.
They observed that widowhood, wars, civil unrest, protests and terrorism has complicated family life with multiple marriages, blended homes among others, of which family policies must identify with.
“We reckon with paternal absence which is fast becoming a trend across Africa. We appreciate the roles of legal and other social systems, yet we affirm that the family retains salience in the resolution of family challenges,” the group said.
The researchers further called on government to form an environment that celebrates children with albinism and create policy that can help them.
“We recognise the politics of identity and the debates around whether albinism is a disability or a special need. Social workers must be made to support parents of children with albinism. Over-protectionism has detrimental implications for children with albinism as they may not grow up to be adults who can take risks.
Also, the researchers noted that victim-blaming must be avoided when discussing family issues, stressing that the social structure that strains relationship in families must be addressed.
“Spatiality influences identity contractions, hence, bordered and migrant identities are important to factor in understanding volatile communities,” They said.
The group, who commended the effort of the Federal Government and other stakeholders in the rehabilitation and reintegration of former Boko Haram members, recommended the inclusion of families of the victims in rehabilitation and reintegration process.
“The importance of the welfare of the children of widowed partners cannot be over-emphasised hence, we prescribe policy actions that would be inclusive for the children of widowed partners, more so there should be an internal support system such as cultivating resilience, sharing experiences and widow support system,” it said.
The report also called on government to look into cultures dehumanizing women and provide policies that would safeguard the rights of women and embrace cultural change in the society.
“Given the criminal tendency of young people living around the border, intervention programmes should be organised by NGOs and youth leaders that would include advocacy and training. Also, there should be provision of human security, provision of alternative means of living bring education to border communities,” the report added.