Equip boys with skills, tools to adapt to changing times, NGO charges parents

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A non-governmental organisation, the Centre for Applied Ethics and Political Communication in Africa (CAEPOCOM Africa), has charged parents to train and equip their boy-child with the necessary skills and tools that will enable them to adapt and thrive in this rapidly changing world.

Members and resource persons of the organisation made this charge on Monday in Ibadan during the second edition of the Ibadan Boys’ Summit 2023 with the tag ‘The Bodacious Boy 2.0’, a programme under the Reclaiming Masculinities for Sustainable Co-existence (REMASCO Project).

The Executive Director of CAEPOCOM Africa, Dr Sharon Omotoso, stated that REMASCO is a project under the Gender and Sustainable Development focus area of the organisation. According to her, the other three focus areas are Applied Ethics, Political Communication and Good Governance, and Media Literacy.

“Times are changing, but our boys are not,” Omotoso lamented. “This is the major reason we need to equip them with skills that will secure the future.”

Dr Omotoso and Aisha Momoh handled the ‘Testimonial and textual analysis’ session. They acquainted the boys with the importance of knowing themselves and taught them about time, energy and money management. They noted that it does not matter the resources boys have, but knowing how to utilise them well is the most important thing.

They stated that to be a boy is not easy, yet boys must be trained to become ‘son material’, ‘husband material’ and ‘father material’.

At the panel session on ‘Being a boy is fun’, the trio of Mr Jide Ogungbayi, Samuel Adejube, and Ademola Olagoke shared their childhood experiences and encouraged boys to not allow their background and environment to limit their dreams.

Dr Olufemi Akingbola at the ‘Reproductive and mental health’ session dispelled the myths about puberty and mental health. He also noted that there are some medical and sexual issues associated with puberty that need proper attention.

He advised the boys to speak to their parents, counsellors or doctors if they notice anything that is strange in their bodies or feeling. He also advised them to abstain from anything that will harm their body, to resist peer pressure, and to say no to illicit sexual activities and drugs.

Mrs Aminat Ayoola, from the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence of Nigeria, handled the Technology session. She urged parents to allow their children to use smartphones and computers under supervision so that they can learn about technology and be on par with their peers.

She noted that there are merits and demerits of technology, the internet and social media, but that young people should capitalise on the positive side of technology to make a living and career for themselves.

According to her, some of the career opportunities in technology that young people can venture into and upscale are game development, cyber security, robotics and drone technology, artificial intelligence (AI), software development, data analysis, among others.

Josiah Obong Josiah, a postgraduate Political Science student at the University of Ibadan, handled the ‘Media/information literacy and crime matters’ session. He spoke about violence, political, and economic crimes and how they relate to media usage.

He said one of the right ways of properly using the internet is by practising ethicality to ensure that one does not harm themselves and others. He advised that if one is not sure of anything on the internet, and cannot verify it, they should not share or spread it, so as not to cause unnecessary fear in people.

“Do not allow anyone to make you do anything that is against your will or being,” he warned. “And do not give false information for selfish reasons or interest.”

In the course of the event, the REMASCO Champion Award was given to the founder of The POTTV media, Victor Ehindero, for his work in championing and supporting the cause of the boy-child.

Ehindero spoke to the boys about how to make money. He said the boys are not too young to make money. He encouraged them to find out what they love doing with ease, develop it, and be consistent with it.

In the course of the event, there were leadership/personality tests, game sessions, and other forms of entertainment.

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