Sanwo-Olu commends wife for Lagos Boy Child Initiative 

Ayodele Olalere

 

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Sanwo-Olu, has commended his wife and First Lady,  Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu for championing the Lagos Boy Child Initiative, LBCI,  as a way of instilling positive morals in boys and enlightening parents on behavioural management of the boy child.

 

The Governor lauded his wife  at the 2023 Lagos Boy Child Initiative Parenting Seminar held on Thursday, at Villa Park Hotels & Suites Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos. Governor Sanwo-Olu was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Pharm. Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu.

 

In a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Office of the First Lady, Lagos State,  Nwonah Olubukonla, Sanwo-Olu expressed the state’s willingness to identify fully with this initiative, adding it was  in line with the vision and agenda of his administration.

 

He said lack of good parenting and societal perception on the upbringing of the male child are some of the factors inhibiting the boy child to attain their full potential.

 

In her remarks lhe First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu encouraged parents to be deliberate in their actions towards their children regardless of their gender, maintaining that training the boy child requires painstaking efforts and a series of counseling sessions.

 

Cash and gift prizes were presented to four winners of the inaugural talent hunt competition earlier organized by her office, while other consolation prizes were also given to  all the 13 boys that participated in the competition.

 

The keenly contested competition was done in two categories: Creative and Visual Arts and Science and Technology under which we have Robotics and Mechatronics and the prizes were awarded to both senior and junior categories.

 

One of the facilitators at the event, Mrs. Wendy Ologe, who is the founder, International Parent Network, in her  paper:  “Effective Parenting: Managing Behavioral Differences and Mentoring Responsible Boys”,  stressed that fathers need to be more available for their male children, extend love to them and show them compassion as role models and mentors.