Activisis have said more attention should be given to the boy-child.
They spoke at the launch of a campaign by a group, A Mother’s Love Initiative (AMLi ) to mark the National Sons Day, which holds today.
It noted that boys sometimes suffer physical, medical, educational and emotional neglect on the basis that they were the ‘stronger sex’.
AMLi Press Secretary/Legal Adviser Uchechukwu Ginika said: “We call on stakeholders to give attention to the physical, health, mental, educational and emotional needs of the boy child.
‘’We demand that African practices which hurry the boy-child into adult responsibilities should be shunned, discouraged and discontinued. There should be social justice for the boy child.
‘’There should be affirmative actions to improve his wellbeing. A well-balanced boy child today is a well-groomed gentleman tomorrow.”
AMLi, which runs a TV Series: “Children na de Future” added: “The rights and roles of both genders must be protected and preserved in the right proportions – none should be neglected.
‘’When the rights and roles of the boy child are neglected, they barely survive. It is paramount that today’s sons are tomorrow’s dads, leaders, role models, and change agents. Neglecting them today has grave consequences on the future of any society. While we should still advocate the rights of the girl child, we must strike the balance,” Ginika added.
Others who spoke wereNollywood actors Segun Arinze, Nobert Young and Sunny Mc Don; actor/broadcaster Chukwuka Jude, National Secretary of Actor’s Guild of Nigeria Abubakar Yakubu and a broadcaster Justice Aligogo, among others.