Today’s boys need empowerment, most are not prepared for manhood

The Centre for Applied Ethics and Political Communication in Africa (CAEPOCOM Africa) has charged parents, schools, and society to properly train and empower boys so that they can grow into confident, productive men.

CAEPOCOM Africa made this charge on Wednesday in Ibadan during the 2025 edition of its annual Ibadan Boys’ Summit, tagged The Bodacious Boy 4.0, which is a project under its Reclaiming Masculinities for Sustainable Co-existence (REMASCO) programme.

Boys across Ibadan, from ages 10 to 18, participated in the event.

The Executive Director of the centre, Dr Sharon Omotoso, stated that REMASCO aims to provide a platform that will enable boys to catch up, because they have been left behind for many years.

“Even though we see men in public spaces, boys are not adequately prepared to take up these spaces that men currently occupy. They are also not groomed to share the spaces with their female counterparts,” she said.

Dr Omotoso lamented that an average boy cannot say he has what it takes to take care of a future wife or confidently compete with his female counterpart because the Nigerian system is now structured in a way that girls are now becoming more powerful and empowered, and gaining their voices.

“What we seek at CAEPOCOM Africa is equity, a space for boys and girls to co-exist. We do not want a scenario of imbalance, where boys feel inadequate about themselves and their lives. We want to get boys equally empowered,” she added.

Earlier, while delivering the welcome address, Ms Oyebanke Kayode urged boys to believe in themselves, that irrespective of their backgrounds, they are enough and important.

Kayode encouraged them to be cautious, confident, and real, and to ask questions about things that are important to them, adding, “Manhood is not about money and muscle, but about respect, integrity and courage.”

Media professional and Founder of Shoggz PR, Mr Olusoga Olugbenga Tosh, told the boys that they should make today count so that their tomorrow will be better.

While telling his childhood story, Tosh emphasised that what people say does not matter, but only what God says, adding, “So be careful with the people you follow or imitate.”

Shoggz PR boss said that one of the secrets of greatness is mentorship, urging the boys to always acknowledge and celebrate their mentors.

Pastor Olulakin Alabi, Mr Samuel Adebiyi, and Henry Fajemirokun were in a panel session moderated by Dr Samuel Adejube.

The panellists agreed that parenting a boy-child is a unique journey that requires knowledge of the peculiarities and expectations of boys at in every stage of their upbringing.

According to them, what it means to be a boy in this time and age is summarised in the acronym BOY ─ B standing for boldness and brilliance, O for obedience and observation, and Y for yearning and yielding.

The panel enjoined the boys not to let their background put their backs on the ground, not to be satisfied with their current situation, and to always know what they are doing and what they are pursuing.

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“There are challenges in the way of boys, but if you persist, you will succeed. Where there is a will, there is a way. So, let your story teach and impact others,” the panel advised.

During the event, the boys were exposed to some tests, icebreaker sessions, and games. At the group discussion session, participants were opportune to meet and be motivated by undergraduate and graduate male volunteers in areas of technology, science, and the humanities.

Other highlights of the event included activities on leadership, media and information literacy sessions.