Since the year 2018, the 16th of May has been globally celebrated as the International Day of the Boy-Child. On Tuesday, 16th May 2023, Women Community in Africa @wcasummit the advocacy arm of Beyond Mentors Community Care Initiative @bmcci.ng organised A One day mentorship programme aimed at transforming the life of the boy-child with the theme “Re-engineering boys to value”.
The mentorship program which featured 14 schools had about 150 young boys present as they were taken through series of mentorship by the facilitators and speakers present.
Giving the opening speech, Chairman of WCA, CEO KAS Prints @kas_prints Prince Kasumu Ademola highlighted the importance of not only education but refining of innate abilities that would help the boy-child adapt to a fast changing world and transform the lives of others around him. He started that Nigeria can only become a better place when all Nigerians, boys and girls alike make up their minds to leave a positive imprint on the map.
The Founder of WCA, Hajiya Khadijah Abdullahi-Iya who was represented by the Executive Director Beyond Mentors Limited, Dr. Maimoona Salim emphasized the importance of giving attention to the boy-child, she explained in her speech that the girl child cannot do without the boy child and vice versa.
Speaking on the importance of understanding children and their different temperaments, the keynote speaker, Mr. Kevin Fyneface buttressed the need for parents to communicate with their children instead of using force to get them to carry out an action, he also stated the importance of sexual education and open communication.
The Vice President, WCA, Mrs. Adetoun Dally, Founder Children Impact Initiative challenged parents, teachers and advocates to ensure the continuity of the boy-child campaign, she advised that the boy-child mentorship program which was the first organised by WCA continues yearly as the negative influence of GBV not only affects the girl-child but also the boy-child.
