While celebrating his daughter Adeola’s 28th birthday, the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, discussed his experience as a parent.
The Ooni, who claimed that parenting was not comparable to a game of squid, admitted that he had his fair share of parenting issues after becoming a father at the age of 19.
Parenting can be a big dream with unique challenges. It is never a game of squid. I have had my share of its beauty as a young father who was blessed with the most precious daughter at the age of 19. It was a huge responsibility for me, and I relied on a leap of faith and determination.
Further he said, “I equally realized that being a single parent to a daughter in an unfamiliar footprint can be a major shift in human experience and a daunting journey as you need to help your child to navigate day-to-day social situations, complex feelings, and developmental changes that life prescribes.
“Profoundly, life taught me to exhibit an abundance measure of resilience, compassion, determination, and above all empathy which my daughter sought from me.”
The Ooni, who described his daughter as his “closest friend and greatest confidante," went on to say that he and his daughter had created an unbroken bond.
He added, “She is and will always be a huge blessing to me and life successes. I celebrate you, Princess Adeola Ogunwusi, for being the epitome of my strength and dignity. Your tenacity, doggedness, and unshakable optimism to be the best in life are unarguably lifelong lessons that I cherish in you.”
Source: Punchng
