The Initiative for Social Impact and Sustainable Development (ISISD) has called on governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize the well-being of the boy child as the world commemorates the World Day of the Boy Child (WDBC), also known as the International Day of the Boy Child, on May 16.
In a statement released by the coordinator of ISISD, Funmi Falobi, she emphasized the need for parents, caregivers, teachers, and all stakeholders associated with the upbringing of the boy child to pay attention to emerging issues that affect the mental well-being of boys in line with the theme for this year’s commemoration, “Boys and Mental Health.”
The WDBC was founded in 2018 by Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh, a university lecturer from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, to focus on the well-being of boys, their needs to feel happy, healthy, and valued within family and community. Falobi noted that the wholesome development of the boy child cannot be left unattended if society wants to have a secure environment. She added that well-trained boys with good mental health will not abuse girls or cause problems in the society, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that the boy child receives the needed attention to grow up as responsible individuals that would protect the girl child and ensure good governance in society.
Dr. Teelucksingh, who is also the founder of the WDBC, said that the commemoration provides a rare opportunity for individuals, organizations, and institutions to improve the manner in which they protect boys and reclaim their heritage.
He emphasized that boys are fragile and vulnerable, and somewhere along the journey from boyhood to manhood, they are socialized not to express natural and spontaneous reactions to spiritual, physical, emotional, and psychological pain, disappointment, and rejection. He further added that when boys shun the realities of their vulnerabilities, they become suicidal and consumed by low self-esteem and repressed emotions.
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According to Mrs. Falobi, there is the need to focus on the mental health of the boy child if we want to live in a secure environment. She noted that “well trained boys with good mental health will not abuse girls and cause problem whether now or in future in the society, making all of us safe”, and that it was therefore imperative that the wholesome development of the boy child cannot be left unattended, in order to have a secure society.
“With what is happening around us today, we cannot afford to leave the boy child behind. Boys have their challenges and as families, governments and institutions, we must look into the welfare and mental wellness of the boys if we want our society to be safe.
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“When we look into the challenges boy child faces and provide support system, they grow up to become responsible males that would protect the girl child and ensure good governance in the society,” she added.
In his address ahead WDBC commemorative events, WDBC founder, Dr. Teelucksingh said the day provides a rare opportunity for individuals, organisations, and institutions to improve the manner in which they protect the boys and reclaim the heritage.
” Our boys reflect our heritage and serve as one of the links to the past and the present that intersects with the future of our families, communities and world.
“Boys are fragile and vulnerable. Somewhere along the journey from boyhood to manhood, boys are socialised not to express the natural and spontaneous reactions to spiritual, physical, emotional, and psychological pain, disappointment, and rejection. They are socialised to equate strength and masculinity with suppressing their natural and spontaneous reaction to pain, disappointment, and rejection; not asking for help; and shunning vulnerability” he said.
He added that when boys shun the realities of their vulnerabilities, “boys are suicidal, slowly descending into the deep dark abyss of depression, and consumed by low self-esteem and repressed emotions”.
Meanwhile, as part of the WDBC events in Nigeria, ISISD in partnership with Igbobi College, Yaba (ICY) shall hold a forum with ICY boys to provide mentoring and orientation for the boys on the need to guard their mental health, as well as boost their self-esteem in handling challenges in the journey from teenagehood to adulthood.
Principal, Igbobi College Yaba, Rev. Adedotun Akanbi said the school is grooming boys that would grow up to become responsible men that would protect our girls.
Interested stakeholders can pre-register at www.bit.ly/MAY16-WDBC to participate in a pre-World Day of the Boy Child (WDBC) virtual event. The event will take place on May 14, 2023, at 8pm Nigeria time and will feature Dr. Teelucksingh as one of the special guests. The event will provide an opportunity for individuals, organizations, and institutions to discuss a range of issues surrounding the theme, “Boys and Mental Health”.
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