Convener and CEO, Hajia Ameenah Yunus-Ali, while welcoming guests and dignitaries, said the initiative was designed to create safe spaces for families to reconnect.
Initiative aims to create safe spaces for families to reconnect — Founder
Nigerian parents have been urged to embrace technology and use it as a tool to strengthen bonds with their children.
Speaking at the 2025 Parents-Teens Summit (PTS) themed “Future Forward Families” on Saturday, August 30, at Beehive Schools, Agidingbi, Lagos, Mrs. Modupe Ehirim, keynote speaker, said families must adapt to the realities of a digital society by bridging the generational gap.
According to her, “We have to bridge the elders and the younger generations in this tech-driven village of ours.”
Mrs. Ehirim noted that the present generation of children are tech-savvy, and there is a lot to learn from them with respect to the digital media.
“I have decided that I’ll use social media to tell my grandchildren moonlight tales. That’s what many can do,” she said.
The keynote speaker added that sincerity and second chances are vital to parent-teen relations. “Teens can make mistakes, but it’s important to apologise sincerely and rebuild your parents’ trust in you. There are second chances, and the trust only comes when you’re able to convince them that you’ve changed,” Ehirim noted.
Muslim News gathered that the summit, organised by Timeless Soul Inc., marked both the fifth edition of the annual gathering and the organisation’s fifth anniversary.
It is aimed at bridging communication gaps, creating a common ground and leveraging technological advancement in parents-teens relations.
Convener and CEO, Hajia Ameenah Yunus-Ali, while welcoming guests and dignitaries, said the initiative was designed to create safe spaces for families to reconnect.
“Parents are quick to ask us to fix their teens, but reluctant to fix themselves,” she explained. “That’s why we bring them together – to learn the same lessons and return home with a shared perspective. The conversation shifts from ‘What did they teach you?’ to ‘What did we learn?’”
Breakout sessions were held for three groups: 9-14 years, 15-18 years, and parents. Mrs. Rizqah Soddique Lasaki told parents that parenting must remain a community effort, while Coach Odunayo Adegbaju encouraged younger teens to value their “inner circle” and maintain trust with their families. Counsellor Bolanle Ajijola warned participants against chasing online popularity, describing social media as “a bait” that requires self-discipline.
A panel discussion allowed both parents and teens to air their views. Therapist Adeola Kingsley-James emphasised that parents are still “the loudest voices” in their children’s lives, while Islamic cleric Nurudeen Ibrahim urged age-appropriate teaching to avoid overwhelming children.
Mr. Nurudeen Ibrahim, who is also an educational consultant while speaking stressed the role of age in education. He advised that children and teens should be taught things at the appropriate age.
According to him: “We load children with doctrines at the wrong age, and that leads to fatigue. This is not good enough. Islam teaches us to train children on prayer at the age of seven and scold them for refusing to pray at the age of ten. He disclosed that good Islamic education should instill the fear of God, foster sincerity and trust.
In recognition of their contributions to family and community development, Timeless Soul Inc. presented awards to individuals and organisations, including Mrs. Modupe Ehirim, Mr. Muhammad Ahmad (Mentor Mo), Debbo Africa, GOXI Microinsurance, Ayodeji Lawrence, and Fareehah Faramolu of Tambi Market Stall.
Many participants described the summit as transformative. Mrs. Love Nnadike, who attended with her daughter, said the discussions reinforced what they had already been working on at home. Teenager Imraan Ayoku expressed hope that the lessons learned would ease his long-standing disagreements with his mother over device use.
Other notable attendees included the Sanmori Adinni of Ijebu Land, Alhaja Fatimah Oyefeso; one of the ladies of Your View on TVC, Hajia Nymat Akashat-Zibiri; family therapist Bushroh Okeowo Bombata, and business coach Mutiat Olagoke, among others.
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