Wife of the Lagos State governor, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu and other stakeholders have stressed the need to provide robust support systems through schools, places of worship and community programmes that strengthen the boys and prepare them to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
The governor’s wife stated this at the Lagos Boy-Child Initiative Parenting Seminar 2024 with the theme, “Modern Parenting Strategies Towards the Development of the Boy-child in Today’s World,” organised by the office of the First Lady of Lagos State held at the State House, Marina, Lagos.
Mrs Sanwo-Olu said it is important for parents to surround their boys with positive role models – whether from family or the broader community for them to become responsible adults.
According to her, it is important that parents do this because such role models would help show the boys the many facets of healthy masculinity, including respect, kindness and integrity.
She added that, “The journey of parenting, as we know, is filled with both challenges and rewards. As society continues to evolve, so too must our approaches to raising boys.
“Today, more than ever, boys are growing up in a world that demands a new kind of strength – one that values empathy, emotional intelligence and respect for others. These qualities are essential for the balanced development of our sons and, by extension, for building communities rooted in peace and understanding.
“While traditional expectations of strength and independence have value, they can sometimes limit the full expression of who our boys are meant to be.”
Mrs Sanwo-Olu noted that as parents, one of the most powerful things they should do is to create a culture of open communication within the homes, adding that when boys are encouraged to share their thoughts and express their emotions, it shows that their voices matter and that their feelings are valued.
In her address, the country representative of UNICEF, Cristian Munduate, represented by Mrs Celine Lafoucriere highlighted UNICEF’s commitment to advocating for children’s rights, ensuring they have access to education, a supportive environment, healthcare and other essentials to fulfil their potential.
She underscored the importance of positive role modelling saying that parents must be positive role models because children are copycats.
Delivering a goodwill message at the event, the chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Social Development, Hon Abiodun Orekoya, said the seminar was well-targeted, stating that many social issues today stem from deficiencies in parenting.
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