Parents and guardians have been urged to effectively guide and mentor young boys to become responsible men in society.
A non-governmental organisation gave the advice, the Elizabethan H&H Foundation, which warned that neglecting the boy child would have dire consequences for society’s future.
The founder of the NGO, Mrs Oyinade Samuel-Eluwole, decried that boys and men are silently battling neglect, pressure, and emotional suppression in today’s world.
Speaking at a programme to commemorate this year’s World Health Day in Lagos, Samuel Eluwole said the NGO aimed to speak for those with no voice, particularly the boy child.
The event, ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures: The Boy Child’s Mental Well-being: Breaking the Silence,’ coincided with the 55th birthday of the founder of the Elizabethan H&H Foundation.
She noted that social constructs often discourage the boy child from seeking help or expressing their pains, urging parents and guardians not to raise emotionally broken men while empowering the girls.
According to her, the World Health Organization has said Boys are four times more likely to die by suicide than girls, and many African boys are more likely to drop out of school due to economic pressure (UNESCO, 2023).
While stating that the future of male children isn’t a conversation for tomorrow but a call for action today, she said, “The Mission of Elizabethan H&H Foundation Foundation is not just an initiative, it’s a movement.’’
Speaking during the panel session of the event, the medical practitioner, Dr Gloria Are, said boy children need to be mentored and guided well, urging parents to always look out for signs that can make them behave abnormally to know how to tackle them.
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