Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday urged men to love and honour women.
He reminded men that women are not subordinate to them.
According to him, women are created equal with men.
The Vice-President stated this when he addressed State House correspondents after celebrating this year’s Fathers’ Day at Aso Villa Chapel in Abuja.
He was joined at the service by his mother, Mrs. Olubisi Osinbajo; Senate Deputy President Ovie Omo-Agege; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha and others.
Osinbajo said: “I think the responsibility of the father is incredible indeed and I think what is most important is to teach our men, young men growing up, that they must honour women, not just their wives.
“Of course, you must honour and love your wives, but I think that it is very important that we honour women.
“We don’t treat them as subordinate to us; they are created equal to men. But most importantly, we must honour them and recognise their role as partners, not just in families, but in society as well.”
Emphasising that men have important roles to play in the society, Prof Osinbajo said: “It is not the ability to father a child, the ability to have a child that makes you a father; it is the courage to bring up one, the ability to raise one. That’s what really makes you a father. I think the responsibilities of fatherhood are so many, whether one is a biological father or whether one wants to take care for other children.
“I think that all of us, as men, have a role to play in the life of so many, not just our biological children, but so many of them who have no fathers, even to some who have fathers to whom we have the responsibility to set an example to lead exemplary life, to bring them up as the scripture says: in the way of the Lord.”
Ovie Omo-Agege, who earlier took the first reading of the service, from Malachi 1:3-6, said: “It is not what we tell our children but the lives we lead and they see us lead that is important in the life of fathers.”
He said this would help a lot in the formative years of children and make them responsible members of the society.
Mustapha said the Fathers’ Day was not about the celebration but a reminder of the role men have to play in their families as physical and spiritual head.
“It’s not about the celebration; I think it’s a constant reminder about our responsibilities as fathers.
“We are reminded of the fact that, first, we are the priests of our homes. So, we ought to pray for our families.
“And when you have children that are aware that as a father, you are praying for them, the chances of their drifting will not be there because they know that the eyes of their father are constantly on them.
“Constantly, you are reminding God that He has entrusted you with this responsibility and you ought to live up to the responsibility.
“The second thing is that as fathers, we are supposed to exemplify the life of Christ in the lives of our children because we are just like letters that our children read on a daily basis. It is not about how much we say or what say; it is about our lifestyle.
“The other reminder is that we are bread winners in our families and we ought to provide for our families.”
The Chaplain of Aso Villa Chapel, Reverend Seyi Malomo, urged fathers to be sensitive to discern any aggression that could harm their families.
The cleric admonished fathers to lead their children in spiritual exercises, like fasting and prayer, reminding them that their actions have direct implications for their children.
Prayers were said for President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Osinbajo, the Legislature and the Judiciary in Nigeria.
The congregation also prayed for unity, peace and progress of Nigeria.
Highlight of the service was the presentation of gifts to President Buhari, Vice-President Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and others.
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