16/03/2026
As a counsellor, incidents like the recent one involving students of Igbinedion Education Centre are deeply concerning but also important learning moments for society.
When a child hurts another child, two things must happen at the same time: accountability and correction.
Accountability ensures that the victim is protected and justice is served.
Correction ensures that the offending child learns, grows, and does not repeat the behaviour.
Punishment alone does not build character. Guidance, emotional education, and responsible parenting do.
Many behavioural problems we see in young people today are symptoms of deeper issues — lack of emotional supervision, peer pressure, exposure to harmful content, and absence of healthy conversations at home.
Parents must move beyond just providing for their children materially.
They must be emotionally present, teach empathy, and help their children understand the consequences of their actions.
Every child can make mistakes.
But what truly matters is whether the adults around them help them learn from those mistakes.
This is a moment for reflection for parents, schools, and society.