VAM News Update
127 Boys were trained and empowered on Information Communication Technology (ICT), baking, painting, entrepreneurship, graphics, coding among others, by Ondo State Government through the office of the Special Adviser on Gender.
The second edition of the programme tagged ‘Ondo Super Boy Tech-n -LEAD Camp 2.0’, was aimed at harnessing the potentials of adolescent boys to take advantage of the benefits of the technological advancement of the 21st century as well build leadership skills in them.
The 12 days camping exercise held at the Seat of Wisdom College, Alagbaka, Akure, with participants undergone training in the basic knowledge of technology, skills acquisition, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Leadership, Entrepreneurship skills and Attitude building sessions, sports, among others.
Addressing the participants, the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Gender, Hon Olamide Falana stated that the essence of gender equality is ensuring that both sexes are treated with the same equally as that is the way to achieve the goal of not leaving anyone behind.
Acording to her, the initiative has the intention of ensuring that young boys have the advantage that girls in the state already have.
“Even though there’s a global gender inequality gap, we also do not want to leave any gender behind, thereby creating a local inequality in our own community.
“That’s why we have this program, to target our adolescent boys, building in them leadership skills, entrepreneurship ability and right attitude in them.
“We believe that when they have these skills, it will go a long way in molding 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 them to make good use of what they have learnt at the camp and imbibe them 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, Taiwo Akindeko said the initiative is aimed at building and empowering young boys from the scratch.
She stressed that the boys were taught with bible based principles on the way to go in life.
Akindeko said the vision is to raise the boys to greatness as the focus of the society has always been on girl- child only.
While addressing the participants during the closing ceremony of the programme, the Acting Governor of the State, Lucky Ayedatiwa said that the State government would continue to support the initiative to ensure boy-child in the State benefit maximally from the programme.
The Acting Governor who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youths and Students Affairs, Hon. Muyiwa Ogunyemi, charged participants to dispense and showcase the capacity of the training which he believes will make them compete with their peers across the World.
“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, when they get to a certain age, they will be able to compete with their mates and can make good money.”
The participants commended the state government and Hon Falana for adding values to their lives.