By Modupe Gbadeyanka
It was an atmosphere of excitement in Lagos recently when the Boy-Child Transformation Centre (BTC) was eventually launched with several dignitaries in attendance.
The centre, which is the brainchild of Ms Nkiru Moghalu-Oguadinma, is an intervention platform that provides a positive, permanent shift in the quality of the life of the boy-child.
It aims to impact society by promoting healthy, respectful, boy-child causes while offering transformational programmes and resources for schools, foundations, community groups and government agencies.
Present at the unveiling were the immediate past Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr Dakuku Peterside; the Senior Special Assistant (Education) to the Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Adetola Salau; the General Manager, Consumer Marketing, MTN Nigeria, Mr Kola Oyeyemi; and the Executive Vice Chairman of Verdant Zeal Group, Dr Tunji Olugbodi.
Speaking at the event, Ms Moghalu-Oguadinma noted that so much emphasis has been placed on the girl child and it has made the boy-child an endangered gender.
“Evidence shows that more women and girls have received attention and consideration as they are seen as more vulnerable to abuse, attacks, and also as being less privileged. However, the boy-child grow to become a bigger danger to the society,” she said.
She disclosed that when a crime occurs in society, it is likely to be 4-times a man than a woman. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed the top 10 crimes in the country include stealing, armed robbery, murder, Indian hemp offences, sex offences, contempt of court offences, unlawful possession of arms and properties are committed by men.
Today, according to her, the prisons have 90 per cent of men convicts, noting that other challenges that boys face have led to a surge in suicide rates; the use of drugs and narcotics and school dropouts.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr Peterside noted that there is a need to end the various stereotypes against both genders, adding that the girl-child is genetically and biologically stronger than the boy-child, informing the guests that more boy-child die in the first 5 years.
He, therefore, charged everyone to raise responsible boys from the family circles, adopt a mentorship model and ensure that there is Peer Support System, urging the government, at all levels, to advance the interest of children through various policies.
Highlighting the various ways by which the Lagos State Government is working at advancing the cause of children in the state, the aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mrs Salau, stated that the state was working on building the holistic child by entrenching character development as part of the curriculum.
She admonished everyone to work in harmony, collaborate and ensure that team building is reintegrated into our lives.
“Every child desires a society should that accepts and places value on every human being regardless of gender”, she added.
Panellists who contributed to discussions at the event included Mr Oyeyemi, Mr Olugbodi, Dr Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi, CEO, Healthy Living Services; Mr Bayo Sanni, an Impact Investor and Mrs Fabian Ogunmekan, Executive Director, Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR).
Adedapo Adesanya