The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Giving

  • Giving voice to the boy-child in a changing society

    Giving voice to the boy-child in a changing society

    • By Kayode Ojewale

    Sir: Few days ago, the International Day of the Boy Child 2024 was celebrated worldwide with the theme, “Passion and Drive: Igniting the Fire Within the Boy Child.” During the observance, experts highlighted the need to recognize the unique challenges and potential of boys. Annually, the boy child receives comparatively less attention than the girl child. Data shows that passion projects and initiatives are predominantly driven by women and often focus solely on the girl child. This emphasis on the girl child can be largely attributed to global media attention and efforts by the United Nations, Sustainable Development Goals, and other international organizations, which have inadvertently neglected the boy child.

    One of the key issues facing the boy child is societal expectations and stereotypes. From a young age, boys are often taught to suppress their emotions, adhere to rigid notions of masculinity, and avoid activities or interests perceived as “feminine.” These societal norms can be damaging, leading to issues like mental health struggles, poor self-esteem, and difficulty forming meaningful relationships.

    By giving a voice to the boy child, we can challenge these harmful stereotypes and create space for boys to express themselves authentically. Encouraging emotional intelligence and empathy in boys can help them develop healthier relationships and a better understanding of themselves and others. It’s essential to teach boys that it’s okay to feel and express a full range of emotions, whether it’s joy, sadness, anger, or fear.

    Education also plays a vital role in giving a voice to the boy child. Schools should promote inclusive and gender-sensitive curricula that reflect the diverse experiences and identities of all students. By teaching boys about gender equality, consent, and respectful relationships, we can help them become more informed and compassionate individuals.

    Another crucial aspect of giving a voice to the boy child is fostering positive male role models. Boys benefit from seeing men who defy traditional gender norms, embrace vulnerability, and prioritize empathy and kindness. By highlighting diverse male role models in media, sports, and leadership positions, we can challenge narrow definitions of masculinity and inspire boys to be their authentic selves.

    Parenting also plays a significant role in giving a voice to the boy child. Parents should encourage open communication, provide emotional support, and challenge gender stereotypes at home. By fostering a nurturing and accepting environment, parents can help boys develop a strong sense of self-worth and resilience.

    Read Also: Minimum wage: NLC, TUC insist on May deadline

    Are we not overlooking the challenges faced by boys in society today? Have we neglected the needs of the boy child in our pursuit of gender equality? When will the attention given to both genders, in terms of projects, awareness, and initiatives, be balanced? How can we elevate the awareness campaign concerning issues that promote the well-being of the boy child? The time for society to address these questions and secure urgent attention and intervention for the boy child is now.

    Giving a voice to the boy child in society is essential for creating a more inclusive, equitable, and compassionate world. By challenging harmful stereotypes, promoting inclusive education, addressing systemic barriers, highlighting positive male role models, and fostering supportive parenting practices, we can empower boys to thrive and contribute positively to their communities.

    Redefining masculinity is not only crucial for men of all ages but also holds particular significance for the boy child as they navigate their journey to manhood in a rapidly evolving world. By challenging outdated gender norms, we can create a society where the boy child feels empowered to embrace his true self and where masculinity is defined not by stereotypes but by authenticity, empathy, and respect.

    It’s high time we recognized and addressed the unique challenges faced by boys and work together to create a world where every child, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to reach their full potential.

    •Kayode Ojewale,

    kayodeojewale@gmail.com

  • What’s in giving? (2)

    Let’s do a little biology, shall we? Hold your breath and count one to ten. I bet that felt like you would suffocate! That’s because you did not allow the carbon dioxide in you to get out. Carbon dioxide is the waste product of your respiration- you inhale oxygen (O2) and exhale carbon dioxide (CO2). Aside from breathing, CO2 in its gas form can also be produced artificially by burning fossil fuels like oil, diesel and coal, or naturally through volcanic eruption. While CO2 has its great uses, human exposure to its high concentration can result in headache, fatigue, dizziness, sweating, memory loss, depression, nausea and confusion, among others. In fact, exposure to 10 per cent or more concentration can cause death.

    So, you have a problem with giving? I have a brilliant idea. Plants stand lazily around and they don’t pay a dime for the CO2 you give them for photosynthesis. Why not starve them by holding your breath and keeping in the CO2? Oh, sorry I missed out a little detail- holding in CO2 will kill you in a matter of minutes. Did I hear you say you need oxygen? My word! Pardon my omission that I didn’t mention that trees and plants absorb the CO2you give out and they release oxygen during photosynthesis. And since you wanted to starve them a moment ago, they just might be planning retaliation. Seriously, what makes you think you are the greatest giver? You may in fact be the greatest beneficiary of others’ giving. Here are some reasons giving is very important:

    • Freely have you received: there are several things you have naturally that you didn’t pay for. If you have to pay for all the favours you have ever received in your life, do you think you can afford it? Having received a lot of blessings; it’s time to become a blessing.
    • It’s dangerous not to give: it is easy to focus on the cost of giving but have you ever considered the greater cost of not giving? You naturally give CO2 but there are people whose respiration is impaired and they need ventilators to get the carbon dioxide out of their system and put oxygen into them. That isn’t cheap! Your house may soon become a junkyard if you never give away anything. Also, you may think smiling makes you look silly and some people don’t even deserve your smiles anyway. Well, it is generally claimed that you use more muscles to frown than to smile. People hardly frame pictures with a frown; smiles look better on you.
    • It can save your life: Les Brown told of an expedition somewhere in Africa to catch a rare breed of monkeys. In a bid to catch the monkeys without harming them, a particular kind of nut loved by the monkeys was put in rope-tied bottles. As the monkeys reached for the nuts, the explorers pulled on the ropes. Since the monkeys couldn’t remove their fits while still holding to the nuts and they wouldn’t let go because of their craving, they were caught. Giving is not only related to handing out things to people; it is also about giving up unhealthy things in your life. Are you holding to some things you should let go of- bad relationships, emotional troubles, bad habits, etc.? Sacrifice your appetite to save your future.

    Thanks for reading my article today. I would really love to hear from you. So, do share your views with me by sending SMS to 07034737394, visiting www.olanreamodu.com and following me on twitter @lanreamodu.Remember, you are currently nothing compared to what you can become. Don’t lock your potentials in; let them breathe!

     

  • What’s in giving?

    Someone once told me that the word “free” is one of the most popular on the Internet. While I can’t confirm that claim, I can at least tell you that a search for the word on Google as at the time of writing this article returns over 13 billion entries! If the old law of demand and supply still holds, then I would say that people have a great appetite for free things. Of course, you know that not everything that is tagged “free” is actually free; some give you a taste and then ask you for a fee. Notwithstanding, marketers seem to know the power of the word so they use it to attract prospects.

    On the other hand, the word “give” has a little above 4 billion entries, which is only a quarter of entries for the word “free”.  Before you tell me that 4 billion is quite a big figure, let me quickly mention that about 1.3 billion of that is “give me”. It appears that people are more preoccupied with what they can get. In fact, a lot of people define success in terms of what they can acquire.

    For the record, there is nothing wrong with the word free. In fact, some of the most precious things in life are free, such as the gift of life itself. Nevertheless, you will agree with me that most people think of the word in terms of what they can get rather than what they can give. There are few words that make people uncomfortable like “giving”. There is a kind of fear that comes with it. We tend to think that when we give, we lose. How wrong we can be! Giving is one of the most powerful forces in the world. Here are a few reasons giving is so powerful:

    • It attracts people to you: have you ever wondered why Santa Claus is so popular during the Christmas season, particularly among children? It’s because of his association with presents. Parents almost make it a tradition to take their children to Christmas shows where they would take pictures with Santa and of course receive their much anticipated gifts. According to Andrew D. Blechman, in his book “Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World’s Most Revered and Reviled Bird”, when you feed pigeons, they visit regularly. The amount of food you give determines the number of birds around you. If you give too much feed, you will experience overcrowding. Giving does not have to be financial or material. Actors, musicians, comedians, etc., give their skills and their followership never stops growing. You may not have something big but just give.
    • It multiplies what you give: have you ever tried giving a simple smile to people around you? All of a sudden, you notice everyone seems to be smiling back at you. You gave one smile but you got several in return. When you give, you attract gifts. It may be a simple compliment that you give to a storekeeper or a cabman; other patrons after you may then wonder why that storekeeper or cabman ‘seems particularly cheerful today’. You sowed the seed they are enjoying. In the same way, a rude comment or nasty attitude can ruin someone’s day who would go on to ruin the days of several other people by transferring the aggression. You can make a point of giving simple gifts to people every day and your life will never lack the cheer.

    Thanks for reading my article today. I would really love to hear from you. So, do share your views with me by sending SMS to 07034737394, visiting www.olanreamodu.com and following me on twitter @lanreamodu.Remember, you are currently nothing compared to what you can become. Don’t lock your potentials in; let them breathe!

     

  • When giving becomes taxing

    My set at the Federal Government Girls’ College, Benin City started an alumni project last year to celebrate two decades of graduating from the school. We got a quotation of about N5.85million to construct an eight- toilet and open-space bathroom block and levied ourselves to fund the project. We have also been seeking funding support from organisations.

    After a lull of almost a year occasioned by the economic recession and other challenges, we started construction last month.  Though we have not raised all the funds needed to cover the project, we set out in hope that money would come as we made progress.

    It therefore came as a shock when I learnt that workers of the school, one of them a principal officer (not the principal), were asking for ‘settlement’ from the contractors.  “Anything for us?” they would ask when the engineers came to site.  Each time they have to work on the building, the chief engineer said they have to provide money to power the school’s generator used to pump water needed for the construction.

    Rather than welcome the project with gladness and support us in every possible way, I am sad that some stakeholders in the school we are trying to give back to are looking out for their own interest.  I cannot understand the rationale behind their behaviour.  The school is in dire need of such facilities.  There are a total of 12 toilets and bathrooms attached to eight rooms in the dormitory that our project will be serving.  Each room, when we were in school, accommodated between 18 and 20 girls.  This means that 144-160 girls use only 12 toilets and bathrooms.  Broken down further, it means each toilet serves 12-14 girls.  When we were in school, many of us took baths outside because waiting for a turn in the bathroom would mean not making it in time for breakfast by 7am.

    We often complain about our leaders – that they are the worst, very corrupt.  However, I think generally there is problem with followership in Nigeria as well. Followers at all levels need a re-orientation towards service.  This ‘settlement’ mentality is retrogressive.  Leaders and followers alike need to think of what they can contribute to the development of the society; not how to make their own selfish gains.

    We all could learn from the Ready Set Work employability project of the Lagos State government.  Last year, students of the three participating institutions had to attend skills development classes at the Lagos State University (LASU) for 13 Saturdays – and they had to be there before 9am.  Realising the value of the free programme to their students, the other two institutions provided transportation for them to get there on time.  They did not ask for money from the organisers to fuel the vehicles. Each institution appointed desk officers who supervised the students to ensure they attended the programme. This positive attitude went a long way in boosting the success of the programme.

  • Giving back to their alma mater

    Giving back to their alma mater

    The Lagos branch of the Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA) gathered at the Banquet Hall of the Lagos  Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, last Sunday for its yearly luncheon. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI and SAFIYYAH ABDUR-RAZAQ were there

    Resplendent in their traditional and English attires, members of the Lagos branch of the Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA) thronged  the Banquet Hall of the Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja on Sunday for their yearly luncheon.

    On arrival, they exchanged pleasantries, while some women ushered them to the seats. The hall was decorated in the school’s colours of red and yellow. The tables and chairs were covered in the same colours. The high table had a yellow background and the red portrait of a ship with the school’s motto: ‘Keep the Ship Sailing’.

    The Managing Director, Angels Communications, Longley Evru’ anchored the event, which began with the rendition of the National Anthem and the College Anthem, following which guests were recognised.

    The President, GCUOBA Lagos Branch, Mr Gordons Egbedi, spoke on the branch’s achievements.  The branch, he said, had renovated libraries and laboratories in the school.

    Egbedi said the branch gave itself a task last year to acquire a permanent secretariat for the association, adding that he is proud to say that the branch is the only Old Students Association in Nigeria to have a permanent secretariat.

    Chairman on the occasion, former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, lauded the old boys for keeping the tradition of being together every year. He recalled his days as governor and the challenges he faced when he reformed the education sector and decided to return schools to the missionaries.

    Obi urged Nigerians to contribute to the development of the country and not expect government to do everything.

    “As Nigerians, we have no other country except this. We can all contribute in our local governments and states. Don’t question the government, question your council chairman on what he does with the money allocated to the council. Add to the country in the little way what you can,” he said.

    The keynote address was taken by the former Vice-Chancellor of Redeemers University in Ogun State, Professor Oyewale Tomori.

    The event continued with the launch of Mariner Magazine and ‘Your kind of Men’ The book captures the days of the 1959 set in Government College, Ughelli; their accomplishments and contributions to national development. It was reviewed by a former Director of the National Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Mac Memakpore. He hailed the members of the 1959 set for always being present in large numbers at GCUOBA gatherings.

    Chairman, Majoroh Partnership Ovo Charles Majoroh coordinated the launch to which many of the guests donated generously.

    In his remarks, the President-General and Chief Host, Chief Joseph Akpieyi, congratulated the Lagos branch on securing a secretariat for the association. He said the branch is doing everything it can to restore our lost glory; academically, sports wise as well as morals which were the hallmark of the founding fathers of the school.

    Awards were given to three old boys for their contributions to the school and the association. Founder/ Group Managing Director, Arco Petrochemical Engineering Group Mr Alfred Irabor Okoigun was conferred with the highest award. Others were Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) and Mr Gabriel Omoruyi.

    Okoigun expressed joy to have been singled out to receive the highest award in GCUOBA, Lagos Branch.

    He described the award as a healthy challenge, hoping to live up to it. He said his heart is in the school and he wants to continue to make effort to make it a greater institution, adding that he believes the award was given to him in recognition of the little efforts he has contributed to make things happen

    The current Head Boy of the school, Master Adesina Onyekachukwu, thanked the Old Boys for giving him the opportunity to be in their midst. He also appreciated them for  the renovation.

    The vote of thanks was given by the branch’s Vice President and Chairman, Luncheon Party Committee, Clement Djebah.

  • Giving for a living

    The Ikeja Viva L’Amour Lions Club has held a dinner to mark the investiture of Mrs Gertrude Akihimien as its eighth president. NNEKA NWANERI reports.

    They gathered to give a helping hand to the needy and downtrodden. Over the years, the Lions Club has been in the forefront of touching the lives of the needy.

    Last Sunday, the Ikeja branch of Viva L’Amour gathered at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers to install Mrs Geretude Akihimien as its president for next year as well as raise funds for its projects.

    The day of the week did not hinder guests, who came in their numbers. Smartly and stylishly dressed men and women came to lend a helping hand to their friends.

    Officers and members of the club stood out. They wore the same Ankara fabric, sewn in different styles.

    The members of the club were there to give their time, resources and talent. They were excited to take up their various posts. With the way they went about their work, the bond of brotherhood and unity was felt; they were like a small family unit working together for a common good.

    The immediate past president, Mrs Gloria Moweta, in her valedictory speech, outlined some of the laudable projects of the club during her tenure. She urged the members to support her successor, saying: “I hand over with relief.”

    The District Governor of Lions Club, Mr Yinka Bolarinwa, urged them to do more. He said October was membership month so old members should bring in new ones with fresh ideas to keep the club healthy and enhance the ability to serve. “Our dream, Our Future’.

    “Follow your dream, aim high and look to the future as you bring succour to the underprivileged, visually impaired and empower youths,” Bolarinwa said.

    Installing Mrs Akihimien, he asked to beat the gong as the president to call the gathering to order.

    Later, she performed her first task of swearing-in her officers. This was done with the officers’ sponsors standing behind them.

    Thereafter, the new president read her acceptance speech, imploring all to use their resources to serve the communities and put smiles on many faces this year.

    Usually, the spouse of the president is silent. But, Pastor Davidson Akihimien spoke. He lauded the Lions Club for its projects and recommended it as a veritable platform for good deeds and meeting the needs of the less-privileged.

    Also, the husband of the outgone president, Mr Moweta spoke. He spoke of how his wife juggled the task of being the club’s president, mother to their children and a wife to him. He was given an award for his steadfastness.

    There was music and excitement. The serene atmosphere became enlivened as everyone, young and old, took to the dance floor in celebration.