No fewer than 127 boys participated and were trained in the second edition of Ondo Super Boy Tech-n-LEAD Camp 2.0 and empowered in Information and communication technology (ICT) organised by the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender.
The young boys were exposed to training in the basic knowledge of technology, skills acquisition, information and Communication Technology (ICT), Leadership, entrepreneurial skills, attitude-building sessions, and sports, among others, during the 12 days of camping.
The organisers also trained and empowered the 127 boys who participated in the camp on baking, painting, entrepreneurship, graphics, and coding, among others, during the 12-day camping exercise held at the Seat of Wisdom College, Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State Capital.
Speaking during the programme, the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Gender, Hon. Olamide Falana, said the programme was aimed at harnessing the potential of adolescent boys to take advantage of the benefits of the technological advancement of the 21st century as well as building leadership skills in them.
Falana stated that the essence of gender equality is to ensure that both sexes are treated equally, saying the initiative was targeted towards ensuring that young boys have the advantage that girls in the state already have.
Falana said, “Even though there’s a global gender inequality gap, we also do not want to leave any gender behind, thereby creating local inequality in our own community.
That’s why we have this program; to target our adolescent boys, building in them leadership skills, entrepreneurial ability, and the right attitude.
“We believe that when they have these skills, it will go a long way in moulding them, and it will set their foot on the right path when they eventually become men. It will open their eyes to ways of making money,” Falana said.
The Special Adviser urged the young boys to make good use of what they have learned at the camp and imbibe it in their day-to-day activities, as it will help them get to the top in any career they choose.
The Director of Super Boy Nigeria, Mrs Taiwo Akindeko, said the initiative is aimed at building and empowering young boys from scratch. and disclosed that the boys were taught religion-based principles on the way to go in life.
Akindeko said the vision is to raise the boys to greatness, as the focus of society has always been on girl children only.
While addressing the participants during the closing ceremony of the programme, the Acting Governor of the State, Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa, said that the State government would continue to support the initiative to ensure boys in the State benefit maximally from the programme.
The Acting Governor, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Student Affairs, Hon. Muyiwa Ogunyemi, charged participants to disseminate and showcase the capacity of the training, which he believes will make them compete with their peers across the World.
Ayedatiwa said, “The state government would continue to support the initiative of the gender office so that the boys would continue to enjoy and boost their knowledge in every area, and when they get to a certain age, they will be able to compete with their mates and can make good money.”
The State first lady, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, who was represented by Prince Alex Uka, opined that it is important to raise and empower the boy child just like the girls.
Anyanwu-Akedolu also encouraged them to be courageous and bold and face the reality of life, urging them to also go into the world and make significant impacts.
The Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Sunday Akinwalere, applauded the initiative, stressing that it will go a long way towards changing the orientation of society when the youths are taken care of right from scratch.
The Special Adviser to Governor Akeredolu on Education, Mrs Olawunmi Ilawole, while congratulating the boys on the successful completion of their training, urged them to think and develop themselves for the future and “put the training into practice and use the experience they have gained to change the world.”
Ilawole also advised the parents to support and encourage their children to take the training to the next level.
One of the parents, Mrs Mojisola Onile, appreciated the state government through the Special Adviser on Gender, Hon. Olamide Falana, for her vision in coming up with such a massive initiative, stressing that she has seen the impact on her son.
She added that she would do all she could to make sure that her son would be able to practise all that he learned in the camp.
Oluwaseyi Omolade, one of the participants, expressed his gratitude and happiness, noting that the camp helped them a lot in acquiring more skills in technology as well as sports.
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