May 18, 2022

…Renews Call on United Nations to Recognise May 16 As International Day of The Boy Child

Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has renewed the call on the United Nations to fully recognise May 16 as the International Day of the Boy Child in order to deepen initiatives and interventions targeted at promoting the interest, welfare and wellbeing of the Boy Child globally.

The First Lady spoke at the inaugural Parenting Seminar, with the theme: “Parenting The 21st Century Boy Child: A Pathway To Transformation”, as part of the Boy Child Initiative of her office held at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

Mrs. Sanwo-Olu said the seminar was aimed at ensuring that parents have an in-depth understanding of the nitty-gritty of effective approaches to dissuade the boy child from social vices such as rape, drug abuse, cultism, and bullying, among others.

She recalled that an advocacy walk, formal launch, and a three-day residential workshop for boys selected from across the State were organised to extensively address topics of interest, noting that the interventions were followed up with the seminar on how effective parenting can lay the foundation for promoting family values and civic responsibility.

Her words: “Our Boy Child Interventions are aimed at making a positive difference. It is gratifying that it is already catching the fancy of the International Community and I must say we are open to partnerships to scale up our programmes to support the boy child and secure their future. Parents have a lot to do to address the plight of the boy child. The issue of the boy child is a burning one that parents must pay special attention to because if we don’t, the boy child is at risk”.

During the event, lectures were delivered highlighting the importance of sex education in birthing a sexual and gender-based violence-free society; Mental Health Issues in Children – Early Signs and Preventive Measures, and Parenting: Our Civic Responsibility and its Overall Impact on Nation-Building.

The panel discussion focused on “Parenting the Boy Child in the 21st Century: The Journey, Challenges, and Solutions” and was facilitated by subject-matter experts including the Chief Operations Officer of Cece Yara Foundation, Mrs. Bisi Ajayi-Kayode; Consultant Neuropsychiatrist, Dr. Olusegun Ogunnubi and Founder of International Parent Network, Mrs. Wendy Ologe.

Other participants included the Founder of Boy Child Transformation Centre, Mrs. Nkiru Oguadinma; Hon. Justice Jumoke Pedro of the Lagos State High Court; Dr. Dokun Adedeji of the Christ Against Drug Abuse Ministry (CADAM); DCP Fayoade Adegoke of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti; Controller Adewale Adebisi, Controller of Corrections, Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos State Command; Consultant General-Surgeon and Imam, Dr. Sayeid Ahmad.

All the speakers harped on the need for parents to give quality time to their children and improve the communication line in the family while also leading by example to teach boys good values, especially the need to respect the rights of others.

The seminar for parents, which was the third leg of the Boy Child Initiative to commemorate the international celebration, was also attended by stakeholders drawn from various groups including wives of government officials, government functionaries, traditional and community leaders, market associations, religious and professional bodies, security agencies, youth voluntary groups, orphanages, correctional facilities, and people living with disabilities, among others.