An up-and-coming musician, Idopise Emmanuel, with the stage name, “Mr Jack”, has appealed to parents to keep a close watch on their children, especially, during this season of celebrations.
The afro-pop musician spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) late on Thursday in Lagos after a combined Christmas rally and funfair for pupils from some schools in Ikotun, a Lagos suburb.
NAN reports that: the Holy Family School, Prevailer College, Alex High School, Patrician School and Daisy School in Igando/ Ikotun area of Lagos participated in the event.
Mr Jack said that several unfortunate incidents like kidnapping, theft, child trafficking and ritual killings would likely happen during the season and beyond.
He said that the true reason why people used to celebrate the season had been abused by hoodlums and other irresponsible elements in the society.
He said that they had turned it into a period when they should extort money from the innocent people for their own selfish end.
Mr Jack, who recently released an album titled, “Holy Mary” appealed to mothers to closely supervise their children’s activities.
He advised them to know their children’s movements and whom they mingle with during the Yuletide.
The artist warned parents not to succumb to requests by wealthy family members who offered to take their children abroad under the pretext that they would provide jobs for them there.
He said that such offers might end-up subjecting the children that accepted them into child trafficking, child labour or ritual killings.
Mr Jack also advised children against receiving gifts from unknown persons, especially, during the Yuletide.
“Don’t collect gifts from people you do not know.
“They may use such to lure you into becoming victims of ritual killings, especially, as the 2019 general election is drawing close,” he said.
Mr Jack also spoke on his life career as a musician.
He said that music had become a noble profession that could impact positively on the society if properly packaged.
He said, “Gone were the days when the public regarded musicians as street boys.
“Now, you can study music in tertiary institution.
“Music is a vital means of passing information to the people.
“It is a strong tool that can be used effectively to educate, improve interaction and correct negative traits in the society for a better tomorrow.
“Rather than producing hip-hop songs that only sell the beats with little or no impact on youths, artists now assist the government by singing songs that promote unity, peace and change in the society,’’ he said.
He said that the rate of crimes in the society would be reduced if children and youths would listen to their school teachers and parents at homes.
“Therefore, we should support the government by giving proper training to our children so that we will be preparing them as future leaders.
“Musicians also have a role to play in this mission, through their songs and direct association with the children by staging concerts for them,” he said.
He noted that such concerts should focus on the challenges involved in unbridled quest for money by youths.
He said that was the root cause of the crisis in the society.
Jack also advised youths to pursue a better future rather than engaging themselves in all sorts of atrocities. (NAN)
