ORON
In line with the global celebration of May 16 as the International Day of the Boy-child, the coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Akwa Ibom State has celebrated the Akwa Ibom boy-child describing him as a future father, leader, innovator and a change agent.
Lady Helen Eno Obareki spoke on Friday, during an event organised by her office to commemorate the Day, tagged “Building Self-Esteem in Boys: Stand Up, Be heard, Be seen”, which held at the Methodist Boys’ High School, Oron.
Obareki also cautioned the boys against engaging in physical violence, particularly against girls and urged them to develop good habits that will be beneficial to them in future.
She stressed that engaging in physical violence as a young boy can lead to domestic violence in the future, admonishing the boys to learn to resolve conflicts peacefully and respectfully, without resorting to violence.
“You need to learn good habits that take you through life so that when you grow you will maintain them and one of those is that you must learn to keep your hands to yourself. Do not ever hit a girl because now we hear a lot of issues about domestic violence. Keep your hands to yourself and learn to use your words instead.
“Imagine if you grow up and you were used to beating girls while you were growing, you are definitely going to beat your sister, your wife and we don’t want that. We don’t want to raise boys who will become perpetrators of domestic violence once they get older,” she noted.
She further encouraged the boys to continue to dream big, take their studies seriously, shun drugs and keep striving to be the best versions of themselves.
Lady Obareki donated funds for the acquisition of desks for students as well as chairs and tables for staff members of the school.
Delivering a powerful keynote address on the theme: “Stand Up, Be Heard and Be Seen”, Barrister Onofiok Luke, espoused on the need for the boy-child to shun bad gangs and rather build relationships that would propel his growth.
Luke said to be seen and heard means the boy-child must be bold enough to chart the course of his life, take responsibility for his actions and believe in God Almighty for his future.
Giving a synopsis of his life experiences with students of the school, Luke, who is a former speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and former member for Etinan Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said vices such as cultism, drugs and truancy are capable of making the boy-child derail from his God-ordained purpose in life.
In his address, the principal of Methodist Boys’ High School, Oron, Mr. Effiong Imah, thanked Lady Obareki for choosing to celebrate the boy child in their school on a significant day set aside to promote the development of responsible, empathetic and intentional boys.
For proper grooming and development of the boy child, he outlined several urgent needs of the institution to include, provision and installation of solar panels to supply lighting in the school compound as well as the procurement of desks for students, chairs and tables for staff, and the construction of new classrooms to enhance the learning environment.
Senior prefect of the school, Master Godswill Archibong, expressed delight at the celebration, stating that it would serve as an opportunity to foster responsible behaviour among the students and encourage the development of empathy and purposefulness.
Others who spoke were the commissioner for women affairs, Mrs. Inibehe Silas; chairman of Oron Local Government Council, Chief Okon Enweme; Methodist Bishop of Oron, Bishop Emmanuel Udofia; and national president of Methodist High School Old Boys’ Association, Engr. Efiong Efiakedoho.
They reiterated the importance of adhering to the principles instilled by the school and warned the boys against deviating from these core values, urging them to cooperate fully with their parents and teachers by imbibing discipline, righteousness, and the fear of God.
The first lady designate was accompanied to the event by the wife of the secretary to the Akwa Ibom state government, Dr. Inemesit Uwah; permanent secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Margaret Edem; permanent secretary, Ministry of Education, Lady Rose Bassey and aides to the governor. Others who graced the event comprised old boys of the institution, staff members and students.
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