There’s a question I’ve carried with me through more than two decades of working with families, and it’s one that many parents and educators quietly avoid:
Is school really for every child?
When a child struggles academically, our instinct is to look for someone to blame. We question the child’s ability. We question the parents. Sometimes, painfully, the child begins to question themselves.
But what if we’ve been asking the wrong question all along?
The children we mislabel
I’ve sat with parents whose children were labeled “slow,” “lazy,” or “not serious” only to watch those same children flourish the moment someone taught them the way they actually learn. The artistic child drowning in rote memorization. The hands-on learner forced to sit still for hours. The deep thinker penalised for not finishing fast enough.
Some children aren’t failing because they lack intelligence. They’re struggling because the way they’re expected to learn doesn’t always match how they learn best.
A report card measures performance in one environment, under one method, on one day. It does not measure potential. It does not measure purpose. And it certainly does not measure greatness.
A conversation whose time has come
That’s exactly why I’m throwing my full support behind Parents Teens Summit 2026 and its theme, Beyond Grades to Greatness: Families Inspiring Global Impact.
Let me be clear: I’m not the organizer of this summit. It was founded by Coach Ameenah Ali, and for the third year running, she and her team are bringing parents, teens, educators, and changemakers into the same room not to lecture each other but to listen. I’m simply someone who has spent her career in the space where families struggle and heal, and I know a conversation worth having when I see one.
Because if there’s one thing my work has taught me, it’s that the gap between parents and teenagers is rarely a gap of love. It’s a gap of understanding.
What’s happening at PTS 2026
FREE Virtual Sessions | August 24th–27th | 7:30 PM on Zoom Four evenings of open, practical conversations free for families anywhere in the world. Whether you’re joining from Lagos, London, or Los Angeles, there’s a seat for you.
Grand Finale Onsite | Saturday, August 29th | 9:00 AM WAT | EKO FM Marquee, Agidingbi, Ikeja
There’s something truly special about being in the room. This year’s Grand Finale features the following:
The Global Impact Honours, recognizing outstanding contributions to youth and education because the people quietly changing children’s lives deserve to be celebrated loudly.
The Teen Panel — “Dear Adults, We Are Trying.” Young people won’t just be heard; they’ll lead the conversation, speaking candidly about pressure, expectation, and what genuine support looks like.
The Adult Panel — “The Opportunity Gap,” connecting education, employability, and purpose for parents preparing teens for what comes after grades.
Keynote speaker Kolawole Osinowo, a multi-country business strategist with leadership experience across Microsoft, Nokia, and Jumia, bringing a global lens to what it really takes to raise children for the world ahead.
Plus free onsite health checks, confidential age-appropriate health guidance, one-on-one coaching clinics, a book fair, exhibitions, and the kind of networking that turns strangers into a village.
And in the lead-up, the Free Coaching Clinic runs from 3rd to 29th August, a safe, confidential space where experienced coaches, therapists, counselors, and family practitioners will listen, support, and guide you. Whether it’s digital addiction, communication breakdown, or academic struggles, it’s completely free of charge.
Thank you, Lotus Bank and good news for your pocket
The PTS team’s commitment has always been to build a movement every family can be part of, not just an event. Thanks to the generous support of sponsor LOTUS BANK, two things have happened:
First, the Early Bird offer has been extended until 11:59 PM on July 31.
Second, the Regular Onsite Ticket has been subsidized to just ₦2,000 per person making it easier than ever to come with your spouse, your teenager, your friends, or your entire family.
The moments that stay with you
The truth is, the best conversations don’t end at the venue. They continue on the drive home, around the dinner table, and in the everyday moments that shape our families.
This isn’t just another parenting event. It’s a movement—one that’s helping families prepare not just for the next exam but for the next generation.
I have no stake in this event beyond one thing: I’ve seen what happens when families have these conversations, and I want that for every family reading this.
I believe every child deserves the opportunity not just to learn, but to thrive.
Do you?
Then don’t wait until someone else is sharing the highlights. And like the last two years, don’t wait until you hear SOLD OUT.
👉 Register here: pts26.netlify.app/registration 📱 Enquiries: 0913 822 8157 (WhatsApp only)
The future of our children is worth showing up for. I’ll be there. I hope you will be too.