Parents have been tasked with the need to adequately train their male child or children. The wife of the Bishop of the Niger, Dr Elsie Nonyelum Nwokolo, emphasised the need to prioritise skill acquisition for male children, citing its importance for their development and future success.

Speaking at the 2025 Ogidi Archdeaconry Womens’ Conference at St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Ogidi, Anambra State, at the weekend, Nwokolo expressed concern that most parents prioritise discipline and training for girl children over boys, highlighting the importance of providing boys with technical, life, and entrepreneurial skills to empower them to become productive members of society and contribute to economic growth.

The conference, themed, “Christian Stewardship,” brought together women from 24 churches under the Ogidi Archdeaconry. The three-day conference had seminars and workshops on spiritual growth, health, relationships and prayers for the church and the country.

In her remark, Nwokolo, fondly known as ‘Mama Niger,’ who decried the get-rich-quick syndrome among youths, particularly the male gender, said it is essential for parents, educators, and policymakers to work together to create opportunities for skill acquisition and support the boy child in reaching their full potential.

Nwokolo’s advocacy underscored the need for balanced parenting and education, focusing on skill acquisition for both boys and girls to ensure their holistic development and future success.

In an address, the convener of the Women’s conference and Archdeacon’s wife, Dr Nenye Frank Obi, who spoke on the state of the nation, charged women to stand firm on their rights and kick against all forms of emotional and physical abuse.