Job pressure forcing children to grow without home training, discipline — Prof Etta
University Professor Warns of Parenting Gaps Amid Professional Pursuits
CALABAR, Nigeria — Professor Hannah Edim Etta, a Genetics and Biotechnology expert at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), cautioned that the relentless pursuit of career advancement and financial success is undermining family values and negatively impacting child upbringing in Nigeria.
During the university’s 12th Inaugural Lecture, held Thursday at the Department of Mass Communication Auditorium, Etta addressed the theme, “Links, Linkages and Missing Links: From DNA Backbone to Social Cohesion.” She highlighted how intense professional pressures are causing many parents to overlook their home responsibilities.
Etta noted a troubling trend where children are growing up without proper guidance, discipline, and emotional support, as parenting roles are increasingly delegated to caregivers, educational institutions, and digital influences.
“The modern rush for promotions, multiple jobs, side hustles, and financial security has created what I term ‘missing links’ in many Nigerian households,” she said. “We are in a race where everyone is chasing titles and money, but losing their homes in the process.”
The professor expressed concern over rising issues among young people, including juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, and mental health problems, suggesting that many parents only recognize the consequences of insufficient parenting after the issues become more severe.
Etta advocated for immediate action to balance work and family obligations, calling on the government to design policies that promote work-life balance, such as flexible working hours and improved parental leave.
She also urged community and religious leaders to prioritize family unity and responsible parenting over the pursuit of material wealth. “No career achievement can compensate for a broken home,” Etta remarked. “We must bring the missing links together now before the damage becomes irreversible.”
