Professor Reginah Nchelem Azunwena.
STORY BY WARISO WARISO.
A University Don and renowned Prof of Home Economics Education at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, port Harcourt, in Rivers State, Prof. Reginah Nchelem Azunwena has asserted that Home Economics remains the only discipline whose primary concern is the ” family”.
Prof. Azunwena stated this while delivering her inaugural lecture at the 66th inaugural lecture of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni port Harcourt, held on Thursday June 5,2025 at the the Ignatius Ajuru University Auditorium, with topic,: The Family First And The Nation”.
According to the erudite Prof of Home Economics Education, Home Economics provides for the three compartments of the family, especially, the mind, body, and the spirit, positing that in the absence of these, the family is not functional.
The first female Professor in Rebisi kingdom opined that Home Economics and the family are closely linked together with the family as the basic unit, House hold management, family Resource management, family Nutrition, Health, Relationship, Decision making and family wellbeing.
She argued that without the family, there is no nation, even as she opined that it is the family that makes up the nation, adding that when the family is dysfunctional the nation is dysfunctional.
Prof. Azunwena who is the first Professor of Home Economics Education at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, said that the goal of Home Economics Education is to provide wellbeing and self-sufficiency among people of all ages by teaching them how to make informed decisions about their health, finances and environment.
She stressed that Education is vital in preparing students for the roles as informed consumers and the family members, pointing out that the aims and objectives of Home Economics Education include, to provide a sense of responsibility to global issues, Develop personal qualities, perseverance, self-confidence, cooperativeness, team spirit, adaptability and flexibility.
According to her, Home Economics Education, also contribute to general welfare and Sustainable Development by providing students with necessary skills, knowledge, attitude and strengthening their opportunities to live an active, meaningful and independent life, advocate for the concerns of individuals, families, communities and the nation as a whole, as well as enhancing Health and wellbeing through knowledge, problem solving and practice skills, in addition to satisfying household needs with available resources to reduce poverty among others.
