Ondo State government plans to bridge gender gap

Ondo State Government has reiterated the need to bridge the gender gap between adolescent boys and the girl-child. This, it said, would end many vices in the society and keep it crime-free.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender, Mrs. Olamide Falana, gave the assurance, yesterday, in Akure during the close of an eighth-day Superboy Outreach Camp 2022 for 118 adolescent boys across the 18 local councils held at Christ the Redeemer Secondary School, Akure.

Falana, who lamented that boys in their adolescent ages are faced with series of challenges, ranging from drug abuse, bullying, cultism, alcohol, rape, fraud and lure for quick money syndrome, among others, said: “We must ensure that they have the right mindset so that they can always go ahead to do the right thing and be the beacons of change to this generation and oncoming ones.”

“It is actually our own way of developing leadership in our young people, right skills, passion for hardwork and courage so that one day, the society will benefit from them and contribute meaningfully for national development.”

She said that the participants were exposed to technology skills, music, dance, karate, symposium, skills acquisition, coding, games, sports, talent hunt, film shows, boy’s discovery and series of career talks by professionals.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, expressed delight at the initiative to take care of the boys, saying that it will complement the efforts on girl-child development.

Ademola-Olateju, who lauded Falana for blazing the trail in the region on gender balancing, described the programme as impactful.