The wife to Bayelsa Governor, Justice Patience Diri, has decried the abdication of parenting roles and attributed the social decadence to poor parenting.

Diri, who spoke at the sidelines of a Children’s Day activity, Bringing Back the Reading Culture, a Chapter, a Day noted that reading was instrumental to character formation.

Diri noted that the role of parents in the society was fundamental to having a verile society adding that as a judge, she was concerned about the breakdown of social values.

“As a judge it was hearty breaking that children between 12 and 13 were brought to my court for getting involved in money rituals.

“These children met someone in Bayelsa who took them to Delta where the rituals were performed and they brought clay pots they put under their beds, the question is, where were their parents,” Diri asked.

She advised parents to take their roles seriously and take interest in the upbringing of their children adding that as a High Court judge she makes time the monitor the activities of her children.

Mrs Thelma Ibegu, a book enthusiast and Convener, Prima Consult who traced the history of Children’s day celebrations to the 1950s noted that worried by the decline in reading some like minded organisations resolved to give reading a lift during the 2024 children’s day.

“We brainstormed and came up with the concept of reviving the reading culture by putting together activities around intellectualism with educational games and puzzles to give children an opportunity to have fun while engaging in activities around the book.

“A couple of organisations and individuals polled resources together to make this happen and we found a worthy mentor in the governor’s wife, Justice Patience Diri who soent quality time with Bayelsa children from public and private schools,” Ibegu said.

She noted that the focus of the 2024 children’s day on protecting children from dangers posed by online technology was apt given the quantum of violence and bullying in the cyberspace.

Mrs Ebideyefa Nikade, an author, mentored the children on book review methods to analyse books by identifying the plots, characters and literary devices utilised by the author to take readers on a voyage to interesting destinations.

Also Mrs Annette David-West of EthanRose Foundation, said that her organisation which provides care for the young and elderly noted that reading was therapeutic.

According to her, given the current economic pressures reading by pages and chapters can enable one to escape the pressures by getting lost in thoughts in a book.

The children who participated in several educational games were rewarded with several prizes and gifts including books and educational materials.