Expert seeks mentorship, emotional support for boys
Support
By Joan Odafe
Lagos, June 18, 2024 (NAN) A male -child advocate, Mr Aniekeme Finbarr, says mentoring boys and giving them emotional support will help shape their behaviours and instil positive values in them.
Finbarr said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) interview on Tuesday.
He said that it was unfortunate that boys were not properly educated about the many dangers in the society.
According to him, these societal dangers include substance abuse, gang violence, cultism and negative influences .
“Who does the boy child run to?
“The boy-child is almost bereft of someone he can talk to.
“He is afraid of the parents, he is scared of the teachers, he is scared of older people around him.
“That is why we have a lot of boys who are not properly informed and our streets have been overtaken by young boys in primary, secondary schools and tertiary institutions, who are into drugs,” he said.
Finbarr, who is also the Special Assistant to Akwa-Ibom on Social Orientation, said there was need for action to adequately prepare boys for positive living.
He said boys should have positive role models ,parental guidance ,awareness and other things that could help them in the society, like the girl-child.
According to him ,the society stands the risk of losing well-groomed and independent girls to irresponsible men later in life,if the well-being of the boy-child is overlooked.
Finbarr said that the lack of positive role models for young boys had left them at the mercy of pop culture and celebrities with unethical behaviours.
While saying most societal vices were carried out by young men , Finbarr urged parents and guardians to learn to support the boy-child emotionally and properly guide them to be responsible citizens, later in life.
Finbarr further urged governments ,families and non-governmental organisations to also tailor their activities toward supporting boys.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
JOJO/BOLA/BHB
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Edited by Bola Akingbehin/Buhari Bolaji