Africa's Biggest Boy-Child Conference Holds in Delta State, Nigeria

Communique Issued At The End Of The Generation Connect International Conference

In Commemoration of the 2024 International Day of the Boy Child

Date: 16^th May, 2024

Venue: Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria

Presented by: Mega Impact Foundation

vExecutive Summary

To celebrate the 2024 International Day of the Boy Child, Mega Impact Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs Community and Social Development, Total Care For Peace and Development Initiative and other critical Stakeholders organized the 4^th edition of its Boy Child Development Initiative. This initiative is driven towards re-engineering the mind-set of the Boy-Child and ensuring that both the male and female gender grow into responsible adults as well as promote peace building in our communities by engaging boys as agents of change.

The initiative included series of activities and programs designed to address key areas of concern for boys, such as mental health, education, social skills development, and positive masculinity. The conference featured key note addresses, panel discussion, movie premiere, entertainment, an Interschool Oratory Competition, exihibition, awards with a total number of 316 participants.

The Generation Connect Conference was hosted by Princess Pat Ajudua, Hon. Commissioner, Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, the initiative was developed to build children resilience to violence and crime through social developmental approaches to crime prevention” while proffering innovative ways by Critical Stakeholders including Parents (especially fathers to reemphasize their roles in children development), Academics, Government, child development experts, CSO’s, the media, Community leaders, youth leaders and boys themselves to address the issues affecting the boy child in Nigeria.

GECC Conference also provided a setting to discuss and reflect on boy’s behaviours, privileges, and how boys can become agents of change in living a responsible lifestyle to reduce violence against women and promote gender equality.

Objectives:

v From mental health and well-being, achievement and education to equal participation in the family and gendered segregation in the labour market, the role of men and boys in issues relating to gender equality has long been a subject for debate. The conference provided an opportunity to discuss and promote strategies on the role and place of men and boys in gender equality policies and in policies to combat violence against women.

v This Crime Prevention Initiative has been designed to reduce crime rates through re-engineering the mindset of young boys towards embracing the use of the technology for positive purpose

To provide a platform for participants to express their thoughts, ideas, and aspirations. It aims to foster confidence, public speaking skills, and self-expression, empowering them to become effective communicators and leaders.

v Welcome Address

The Welcome address was delivered by Hon.Princess Pat Ajudua Ph.D. the Honourable Commissioner, Delta State Ministry of Women Affairs who welcomed the guests and spoke extensively on the need by parents and the society at large to pay more attention to the boy child, she urged parents to dedicate more time to the development of their children.

She advised the boys’ participants that there are numerous opportunities that abound in the society which they can tap into and also the dangers that are attached to the ills that boys are now getting themselves involved in. She rounded up by encouraging children to embrace education as it is a legacy that will always be beneficial to them in the future.

v Keynote Addresses:

[

Dr. Faith Ireye: Delta State Coordinator, World Health Organization: Dr. Faith in her speech remarked that the society tend to focus on gender equality and empowerment of girls, which is undoubtedly crucial. However, it is equally important to shed light on the challenges faced by boys. We must recognize that boys face unique pressures, stereotypes and expectations which can affect their emotional and physical wellbeing. It is therefore our collective responsibility to address these challenges head-on and ensure that every boy has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential

Chris Bruntlett, International Relations Manager Dutch Cycling Embassy: Chris spoke extensively on Promoting Healthy Masculinity to Support Boys’ Development: Addressing the Mixed Messages of Masculinity. He said that negative Masculinity is a dangerous narrative that is being pushed and that the gap exists in popular culture and the online world, which is what social media like YouTube and tiktok algorithms are feeding boys and emphasized the need to do what we can to make sure that there are other voices out there that are telling boys that it's okay to themselves.

Barr. Nduka Nwawenne, Zonal Commander, NAPTIP, Edo State Command, He spoke about the challenges of trafficking in persons especially as its concerns child trafficking, he shared with participants the efforts of NAPTIP at tackling the menace and shared with participants cases of human trafficking tackled by the agency. He also gave out NAPTIP hotlines that people can call to report suspected trafficking cases. He also educated participants on the signs that they should look for to be able to identify perpetrators.

Barrister Bridget Anyafulu, Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs, Delta State House of Assembly She spoke on the topic “Gendered Parenting: “Creating a Balance in Raising the Boy and the Girl Child”and emphasized on how parents have lagged in their efforts at raising responsible children and she also encouraged children to take the bull by the horn by facing their education. She emphasized that parenting if properly informed can go a long way in helping to address the problems currently confronting our children and that despite the multiple influences and factors contributing to the raising of children, parents remain undoubtedly the most single important factor in the upbringing and development of children.

v Entertainment

Different dramas which highlighted the challenges faced by children including substance abuse, child trafficking and others were showcased by children from, Mother of Divine Grace Orphanage, Madonna School for children with special needs and Okpanam High School.

v Documentary Presentation

Disconnect" is a poignant short documentary film that delves into the tumultuous journey of boys in our society, it showcases the turbulent life of young boys’ through the character ‘Alex,’ whose involvement in internet fraud at a young age was seduced by the promise of quick wealth, he delved into the world of cybercrime with astonishing success. As his bank account swelled with ill-gotten gains, his moral compass began to erode, leading down to a treacherous path of drug abuse and involvement in occult rituals. He also became involved in child trafficking as a recruiter by convincing his peers to be trafficked and eventually become HIV Positive during his escapades.

As the documentary unfolded, viewers were taken on a visceral journey through Alex's shattered life. Through intimate interviews with family members, friends, and law enforcement officials, we witness the devastating impact of his choices on those around him.

"Disconnect" is a raw and unflinching exploration of the human capacity for both good and evil. Through Alex's story, we are reminded of the fragility of innocence and the destructive power of greed. But ultimately, we can find hope in the resilience of the human spirit, as Alex confronted his past in search of a brighter future, even within the confines of his prison walls.

v Interschool Oratory Competition

Students from selected secondary schools in Delta State took part in an interschool oratory competition where they made presentations on different topics relating to the challenges facing the boy child in our society. The top 3 winners were awarded with educational materials and first position a scholarship in robotics.

The interschool oratory competition had the following Key Topics:

1. Discuss Peer pressure and substance abuse and the way forward.

2. Child Trafficking: Discuss the risks and proffer solutions for protecting children in the digital age

3. Education na scam: Discuss why this statement is irrelevant by highlighting The Power of Education and Skills for Tomorrow's Leaders".

4. Discuss and proffer solutions to Child Exploitation and Abuse"

5. The Dark side of technology: Risks and Consequences of Boys' Involvement in Cybercrime" proffer solutions.

The top 3 winners of the oratory competition:

Okwara Michael: West-End Mixed Secondary School -1st position

Orosevwohwo Alexander: Royal Champions School - 2nd Position

Okorie Emmanuel: Okpanam High School - 3rd Position

PANEL DISCUSSION: Key Themes and Discussions

Moderator: Barr. Stellamaris Mejulu, Chairperson, FIDA (Nig), Asaba branch.

Panelists:

· Faith Otu: ECEWS

· Edna Obanyedeo: Samlizzy Akpeyere Foundation

· Chidiebere Ndukwe: Trend FM Asaba

· Kamsi Ndubueze Mbagwu: Jasmine College, Delta State

· Precious Oghale Diagboya , University Of Benin

Discussion Points:

1. " Addressing Root Causes: Tackling Societal Factors That Contribute to Boys' Higher Rates of Crime Involvement" and solutions.

2. Addressing boys educational and skills acquisition Disengagement. - proffer solutions

Overall Recommendations for future actions

a) Advocate for sensitization among communities/parents and other stakeholders. Sensitize them on the negative resultant effects of neglecting the boy child

b) Public enlightenment campaigns on radio, T.V, Social Media, workshops and one-on-one to re-orientate and re-engineer the mindset of adults on the perception of the male child taking compulsorily responsibility for the family as the bread winner at an early age.

b) Guidance and Counseling in schools be enhanced and teachers should be trained on gender mainstreaming

c) Parents should be sensitized on importance of sending children to secondary school level so that they can actively participate in the society.

d) Interventions for boys, like boys grooming clubs to build their capacity and equip them with skills including Reproductive and Mental Health, Social interactions, relationship Management and so on, also establish support centers for boys where they can get to engage in more meaningful things

e) Undertake continuous review of curriculum/policy documents to ensure gender sensitivity.

f) Ensure gender balance in School Management Committees (SMC), Board of Governors (BOG) and Parents Teachers Associations (PTA).

g) Implement affirmative action on bursaries and support infrastructure improvement, particularly for boys’ schools.

h) Parents, society and stakeholders at large should shield the boy child from harmful practices such as drug abuse, alcohol and other deviant behaviors’.

i) Interventions to improve boy child access and participation in education and economic development

j) There is need to identify successful and responsible men within the society who can act as role models or mentors to boys and engage them in different developmental projects.

k) There is need to reinforce legal support for affirmative action program to eliminate discriminatory practices and also ensure that positive steps are taken to increase the number of boys enrolment and retention in both primary and secondary schools

l) Interventions for parents including regular sensitization and capacity building on positive parenting skills through the use of PTA platforms, community engagements, workshops and media

v Challenges Identified

· One of the major cause of the decadence in morals and value placement amongst children in Nigeria is the failure of parents who have allowed civilization make them loose their sense of responsibility when it comes to sacred home training and development of the child, it was noted that according to history, women had been neglected for too long causing the mass intellectual revolution leading to women issues now taking center-stage across the world but the neglect of the boy child in our societies is now having a ripple effect on the fight against gender imbalance which is seemingly looking lopsided.

· It was highlighted that one of the major issues causing the neglect of the boy child over the years is the resultant effect of over hundreds of years of neglect and relegation of women and girls to the background in the political and social development plans of countries and even homes across the world also that the boy child that we fail to raise and educate properly will end up marrying the girl children we have spent so much time and resources to train

More synergy needed between major stakeholders in children development in the State.
Low enforcement of laws and policies protecting children in the state
More investment needed in programs and initiatives for children development initiatives.

v Conclusion

The conference successfully brought attention to the challenges faced by boys and provided a platform for meaningful discussions while highlighting the importance of supporting boys' development. The event underscored the need for continued advocacy and action to ensure that boys can grow up in environments that allow them to reach their full potential.

v Acknowledgments

We extend our gratitude to the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, Delta State, FIDA, NAPTIP, participating schools, speakers, judges, and volunteers who contributed to the success of the event. Special thanks to the organizing committee and esteemed partners for their unwavering support and commitment to promoting the rights and well-being of children

ENDORSED BY

· International Center for Women Empowerment and Child Development.

· Total Care For Peace and Development Initiative

· Federation of Women International Women Lawyers FIDA Asaba branch.

· NAPTIP Benin Zonal Command

· Nigerian Police, Delta State Command

· World Health Organization, Delta State

· Sam Lizzy Akpeyere Foundation

· Chybee Entrepreneurship Foundation For Women and Girls

· Bridge FM 98.7 FM Asaba

· Society For Empowerment

· BigT Infotech Solutions Limited

· Cleanergy Nigeria Limited

· Bloomsville Schools

· Scedam Moecc Schools

· St Patricks’s College Asaba

· Faith Bridge Consultant

· Impact Plus Africa

· Crystalloid Secondary School Asaba

· Royal champions Schools.

· Noble Academy

· Jasmine College

· Infant Jesus Academy

· West End Mixed Secondary

· Okpanam High School

· Unity Secondary School

· Madonna School For Children with special needs

· Mother of divine Grace Orphanage

Pictures

Organization's Brief

Mega Impact Foundation (MIF) a Non-Profit Organization (CAC20517) is a youth focused development organization and our major objective is to bring social development to young people in Nigeria through leveraging technology to simplify access to education, capacity development and empowerment.

We offer practical and future-driven innovations with special focus on Education and capacity enhancement through sensitization campaigns, policy development advocacy, research, symposiums and workshops.

Our initiatives aim to empower youth to reach their full potential and become active participants in society. These programs play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of leaders as well as contributing to positive social change, our initiatives utilize engaging and experiential techniques.

Vision: To build an Africa where young people can have simplified access to sustainable capacity building, education and empowerment.

Mission: Our mission is to continuously create platforms for young people in Africa to help them thrive through the use of local initiatives to achieve global impact.

Email: megaimpactfoundationteam@gmail.com

Phone: +234 08142743623,