The stark absence of role models in the society, dearth of mentors, and attendant leadership failure plaguing almost all facets of our national life, the need to prioritise the well-being and development of the boy child to enable him discharge his functions effectively in Project Nigeria cannot be over-emphasised.
This is the position of the Boy-Child Transformation Centre (BTC), a transformational platform that provides positive and permanent shift in the quality of life of the boy child as the world marks the 2024 International Day of the Boy Child, on May 16.
Founded in 2018 by Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh, a university lecturer from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the day focuses on boys and their well-being, their needs to feel happy, healthy, and valued within family and community.
In an urgent plea it issued to all stakeholders to via a press statement, signed by its founder, Ms. Nkiruka Moghalu Joel, the organisation advocated for the moral and character development of young boys, amid challenges ranging from inadequate familial support, abandonment, societal pressures, and negative influences, while emphasising the need to instill in them virtues like integrity, empathy, and positive values for positive societal contributions.
“In this month dedicated to celebrating the boy child, we call upon all stakeholders, including the government, religious bodies, parents, primary guardians, schools, leaders, and the entire community, to address these pressing issues. We can only encourage the growth of morally upright young men who will make valuable contributions to the development and advancement of our country, by working together and making deliberate efforts in this regard,” Ms. Joel said.
In 2023, BTC hosted her annual “Walk in My Shoes,” a creative expression initiative for boys to showcase their talents and abilities, resulting in numerous awards.
This year, the initiative will prioritise mentorship opportunities, building upon the success of the previous edition.
Inaugural mentors such as Dr. Tunji Olugbodi, EVC, Verdant Zeal Group; Kola Oyeyemi, CEO, AXIOM Intel Ltd; Oladipo Adesida, COO, Verdant Zeal Group; Tola Ogunmekan, a seasoned banker and financial advisor, and Michael Oloyede, a renowned drummer, musician, educator, and composer, among others.
They will be joined by additional mentors in the upcoming event themed, “Walk in My Shoes – the Mentor’s Feet,” scheduled for May 26, 2024.
Ms. Joel commended government agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for their “proactive measures in recent times towards taking a special interest in at-risk youths and playing a vital role in redirecting the trajectories of young men while offering them a chance at a brighter future”.
As an implementing partner, the BTC said that it is committed to changing the narrative and trajectory of boys aged 5 – 19 across the country, as its programmes and initiatives are aimed at equipping boys with the necessary skills, values, and opportunities to thrive in today’s complex and rapidly changing world.
