Wife of Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has urged parents to be deliberate in their actions towards their children regardless of their gender, maintaining that training the boy child requires painstaking efforts and series of counselling sessions.
Mrs Sanwo-Olu stated this at the 2023 Lagos Boy Child Initiative Parenting Seminar held in Lagos.
She said ,” I want to encourage all stakeholders present to encourage not only our children but others around us. When we see potential in them, let’s encourage them to develop it. In our own little way, let’s support the dreams of children around us to make the world a better and safer place to live.”
She used the opportunity of the event to present cash and gift prizes to the most outstanding four winners of the inaugural talent hunt competition earlier organized by her office, just as she gave consolation prizes to other winners, referring to all the 13 boys that participated in the competition as champions in their own way and encouraged them to continue to hone their creative skills.
The keenly contested competition was done in two categories: Creative and Visual Arts and Science and Technology under which we have Robotics and Mechatronics and the prizes were awarded to both senior and junior categories.
The Governor’s wife also applauded the benevolent gesture of the First Lady of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, for awarding a student of Lagos State University (LASU) Miss Maryam Aramide Abdulrasaq a scholarship under the Renewed Hope Initiative through its National Scholarship Programme (NASP) Tertiary Education.
According to her, the visionary leadership of Senator Oluremi Tinubu encouraged her to personally give back to society. “This is one of the reasons behind what we are experiencing today, we will not only discover talents, we will nurture and develop them to their full potential.” Dr. Sanwo-Olu added.
In his keynote address, Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended his Wife Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu for championing the Lagos Boy Child Initiative (LBCI) as a way of instilling positive morals in boys and enlightening parents on behavioural management of the boy child.
The Governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Pharm. Toyin Oke-Osanyitolu mentioned that the Lagos State Government is pleased to identify fully with this initiative and the goals that it seeks to achieve in line with the vision and commitment to the policy of inclusion of his administration as a strategy for sustainable development.
Sanwo-Olu also identified lack of good parenting and societal perception on the upbringing of the male child as some of the factors inhibiting the boy child to attain their full potential.
He, however, advocated a change of mindset and the realization of the fact that every responsible and well brought up girl child will also need to be complemented by a responsible and well brought up male child.
The founder, International Parent Network, Mrs. Wendy Ologe, one of the facilitators at the event, delivered a paper on: “Effective Parenting: Managing Behavioral Differences and Mentoring Responsible Boys” where she stressed that fathers need to be more available for their male children, extend love to them and show them compassion as role models and mentors.
Wendy explained that society has adopted raising boys to be tough and man-up personal situations, which, according to her, has resulted in various negative consequences faced by the boy child. She urged parents to be more committed towards raising children and see their families as organizations where all units must work together to drive happy homes.
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