Wife of Lagos State Governor Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has said the boy-child also deserve attention.
She spoke at the three-day residential workshop for about 160 boys selected from secondary schools, special correctional centres, and orphanage homes.
With the theme: ‘The 21st Century Boy-Child: Creating a Vision for Transformation’, the workshop is a component of the ‘Boy-Child Initiative’ of her office designed to bring issues affecting boys to the front burner and proffer workable solutions.
Mrs. Sanwo-Olu said the initiative would raise awareness on the rights and welfare of the boy-child, promote educational opportunities for male children, facilitate rehabilitation of the vulnerable through referrals, and transform male children in the society.
“We want to catch our boys young and make them part of the solutions confronting our nation. There is a lot happening out there. We have children committing suicide; youths involved in social vices, and this is why we have decided to put issues affectiing the boy-child on the front burner with this initiative.”
Participants visited Lagos State Agricultural Training Institute, Araga in Epe, to stimulate their interest in farming as well as agricultural value chains, and Lagos State Model College, Badore in Ajah, for the residential training.
Topics included ‘Security and You’; ‘Drug Abuse and Cultism’; ‘Counselling and Mental Health’ e.t.c., with sporting activities , such as mini-football, table tennis, basketball and board games.
The governor’s wife renovated the senior school dormitory, dining hall, and clinic of the model college, and donated some sporting items to senior and junior schools.