Stakeholders Make Case For Boy Child
AS way of balancing and ensuring a wholesome parenting in the raising of the country’s next generations, experts at the second edition of Boy Child Conversation Conference are calling for more attention to be paid on the boy child, saying a sound boy child is pivotal to strengthening the society, families, leadership and institutions.
They insist that grooming the boy child brings equality with the girl child to improve the society, saying that attention around the globe is female- centric but there is the need to mold the boy child.
This was the thrust of the Boy Child Conversation Conference organised by the Debra’s Palace Initiative in partnership with Young Men Christians Association ( YMCA), Lagos, themed, Kings Awake.
According to the convener, Damilola Chinedu, over 150 boys from secondary schools across the state, who participated at the event, were impacted with the required knowledge they need to become better people.
“It’s amazing to know that several boys here today have never been in the same space as with other boys and mentors and we are glad we did this, trusting that the third edition would be much more impactful,” she said.
Nollywood actor and boy child advocate, Seun Ajayi, noted that the boychild conversation should be supported and paid attention to, as there was a trend of neglecting the boys who should be, protected and cared for too.
“The theme has brought conversations about the boy’s identity and how transforming the minds would transform the society, connecting with purpose in life. Beyond these conversations, we need a system that can help this entire purpose scale,” she added.
The President, Yada Global Network, Oludare Akinlaja, said with most conversations around the girl child, these young boys have shown that they are interested in learning; hence, they only seek the right guidance and mentorship to take them further.
For Assistant Pastor and Senior Personal Assistant to the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God ( RCCG), Leke Adeboye, the boy child conversation brings the needed balance, which tells that equality must not be neglected.
“We have to make it better, and boys should be allowed to express themselves emotionally and otherwise,” he added.
On his part, Senior Pastor of the Franchise Church, Tosin Martins, said changing the narrative and being a positive influence in these troubling times, is key to grooming the boy child.
“We are confident that our experiences will inspire our young men to explore their dreams beyond the constraints of their circumstances.”
Chinedu noted that over the years, the picture of an ideal man emphasises the natural strength of a man to handle challenges and face all menaces of humanity but fails to acknowledge that men could be vulnerable in the absence of support, particularly during their early childhood and adolescence.