Nigerian entrepreneur and nation-builder, Kola Oyeneyin, has blamed the current social vices on bad parenting, saying the systemic damage was caused by absentee or neglectful parents.
According to him, fathers should play a pivotal role in the life of the boy child, as this becomes a significant tool for becoming exceptional in school, life and in leadership roles.
Oyeneyin spoke at an event in Lagos organised by an NGO, Boys Quarters Africa, themed, “Redefining Masculinity: Boys to Wholesome Man” to commemorate the International Day of the Boy Child.
He noted that fathers are critical in the moulding of the boy child but many are failing at their responsibilities due to their unavailability.
“We live in a time where fathers are failing fast, though it’s not entirely their fault. Society has put so much pressure on them with the daily struggle many fathers face; leaving the house early and returning late, working to provide, and still be expected to be emotionally present,” he said.
“For the consequences of fatherlessness, women had to step in. They now pay school fees and put food on the table because fathers became irresponsible along the way,” he said.
Oyeneyin laid out a roadmap built on responsibility, wisdom, and the critical role of fathers, emphasising that the power of personal responsibility for one’s background does not determine one’s destiny, rather, the defining factor is the mindset of ownership over life’s decisions.
“We are a product of the total of our choices, not the total of the chances we take,” he added.
He stressed that every wasted day or year cannot be recovered, urging the boys to be intentional with how they use their time because life is unforgiving and every day lost, every year lost cannot be taken back.
“In everything they desire to get in life, they must become wise, not just talent or knowledge, which is what ultimately makes a young man valuable to society,” he stated.
He affirmed that societies must invest intentionally in young boys, not wait to fix broken men.
“Fathers must be present in spirit, soul, and body. Because if we don’t build boys, we will have to spend our lives trying to fix men who are too far gone,” he said.
On his part, the founder of Boys Quarter Africa, Solomon Ayodele, pointed out that the transformation of the boy-child is not a mere trend but a cultural revolution.
He asserted that the disparity between the boy-child and the girl-child needs to be tackled stressing that while girls are taught how to be good wives and mothers, boys are not trained on how to be responsible husbands and fathers.
