30/12/2014
Islamic group holds picnic for children, parents
By Chinyere Abiaziem / Reporter, Lagos
Al-Jemeel Islamic Society of Nigeria on Friday held its eighth annual picnic for children and parents at the Oke-Odo Muslim Praying Ground, Lagos.
According to the initiator of the annual event and vice president of the society, Ramat Ozoya, the picnic serves as an avenue to make children happy, have fun with their parents, friends and other children instead of being bored at home or left out during the festive period.
“It is often observed that most working-class parents only have the festive holiday to stay with their children, as they hardly have time to spend with their children, due to the fact that they have to leave the house before sunrise and may not return to the house until late night,” she said.
Highlights of the event included Quran recitations, a march past, cultural displays, fashion parade, quiz, choreography, games and raffle draw and competitions between different Islamic societies.
Chief Missioner, Ustadh Abdullah Arowolo, appreciated the Almighty for the gift of life to witness another celebration. “We need recreation where we educate our children; it has been fantastic for the past years, which makes us record parents bringing their children annually.
“We are in a festive period, while our Christian brothers and sisters are marking the birth of Jesus, we also share in the fun of the festive period by bringing our children to inform, educate and entertain them.
“Everybody wants to work, if not for the state of the nation’s economy, wives are supposed to stay at home and manage the home front instead of going out to work and come back late. If parents schedule their time very well, they will have time to unwind with their children,” he said.
Lamenting the decline in morals, he noted that,
“There are no good morals, no etiquette or sound education; it is hard to find a secondary school student who can conveniently write an essay.