By Martha Agas
A Non-Governmental Organisation, the Yargote Foundation, has called for the creation of special programmes aimed at empowering the boy-child to become responsible members of society.
The founder of the organisation, Mrs Anna Pai, made the call at a summit themed “Shaping the Future of Boys for Balanced Living Through Positive Influence” organised by the foundation on Thursday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit also marks the graduation of the first cohort of the foundation’s “Empower the Boy-Child Project.”
Pai emphasised the need for stakeholders to come together to empower and support the boy-child, just as attention was being given to the girl-child, to create a safer society.
“The foundation’s project has focused on equipping beneficiaries with soft skills, mentoring them, and engaging in community service.”
Pai noted that the skills acquired by the beneficiaries were not merely tools but keys to unlocking their full potential.
The chairman of the event, Mr Alkasim Abdulkadir, emphasised that training the boy-child to become responsible required concerted efforts for meaningful outcomes.
He noted that collective action was necessary to secure the future of the boy-child, particularly with reports indicating that there were about 11 million out-of-school boys vulnerable to societal ills.
The keynote speaker, Dr Dale Ogunbayo, urged stakeholders to reflect on the kind of men they wanted the boys to become and be intentional in inculcating those values.
He emphasised the importance of parents, particularly men, serving as credible and accessible role models to the boys.
Beneficiaries of the project reported that the programme had changed their outlook on academics, as they were now more serious about their studies, adhering to school regulations, and avoiding social vices.
