The Convener of the Sanity Brand Ecosystem, SBES, Prince Dan Olaitan Dada, has called on Nigerian parents to intentionally raise children who will grow up to support and celebrate one another, using the unity displayed by the Adeleke family during the recent Osun State election as a case study.
Dada made the call in a reflection issued to mark his 50th birthday on August 16, 2026, in which he thanked individuals, groups, associations, unions, forums and platforms who celebrated with him and sent prayers and goodwill messages, praying that God would reward them and answer their prayers concerning him.
He said the reflection was inspired by what he observed within the Adeleke family before and after the Osun State election held on August 15, 2026, where he watched the singer, Davido, cut short international engagements to return to Nigeria and support his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, and also observed the open honour the governor showed to his elder sister, Dupe Adeleke-Sanni, widely referred to as Iya Oba of Osun.
According to Dada, what stood out was the sense of responsibility the family demonstrated, noting that they approached governance with love for the people and understood that the family name would be affected should the administration fail — a value he described as collective responsibility.
He said the unity shown by the family throughout the campaign was not accidental but a reflection of values nurtured at home, adding that the observation resonated with the work of the 36 Political Elevation Group, 36 PEG, a non-partisan body under SBES that had campaigned for continuity and people-centred leadership in Osun State based on governance impact rather than party lines.
“Many homes are raising competitors, not companions”
Beyond politics, Dada said the episode made him reflect on family upbringing, posing the question of how many people could genuinely do for their siblings what the Adelekes did for one another.
He lamented that many homes today were raising competitors instead of companions, citing common complaints from people about estranged relationships with uncles and relatives who compete with rather than support one another.
Dada warned that comparing children teaches competition, creating favourites teaches resentment, tolerating bullying among siblings teaches children that family is a place to hurt others without consequence, and over-emphasising who is smarter or richer risks raising children who cannot celebrate each other’s success.
He urged parents to instead teach their children to share, apologise, encourage, defend and celebrate one another, describing such upbringing as the foundation for building strong families and, by extension, a strong nation.
“Teach your children that their sibling’s success is not their failure. Teach them to clap when their brother wins. Teach them to check on one another. Teach them to help without always expecting something in return. Teach them that family should not be a battlefield,” he said.
He advised parents not to wait until their children become adults before instilling values of love and unity, noting that every parent would one day no longer be the one holding the family together, making it essential for children to have siblings they could rely on in life.
SMEF mandate
Dada explained that the reflection was issued through SBES’s non-profit arm, the Sanity Multi-Efforts Forum, SMEF, a registered organisation whose constitutional mandate includes promoting ethical practices in health, education and environment; improving service delivery and security in essential sectors; supporting citizens facing harassment or extortion; tackling corruption and abuse of power; supporting whistleblowers and anti-corruption agencies; and promoting transparency in governance and public spending, among other objectives.
He said the publication fell within SMEF’s mandate of community sensitisation and ethical value promotion, describing the family as the first institution of governance and the home as the first classroom for ethics, accountability and service to others.
His charge at 50
Marking what he called his “Golden Era,” Dada charged parents not to focus solely on raising successful children but to also raise children who know how to love one another, noting that while success builds a comfortable life, strong family bonds and ethical values build a safe nation.
He rounded off the statement by again expressing appreciation to all who celebrated his 50th birthday with him.
