International Day Of Boy Child: MWAN Young Doctors’ Forum Tasks The Society To Focus On The Boy Child For Societal Development.

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….As MWAN National President, Dr. (Mrs) Minnie Oseji Tasked MWAN YDF Leadership, National Coordinator, Dr. Evenemo Esievoadje To HelpThe Boy Child To Make Better Decisions

History was made on the 17th of May, 2021, as the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN) celebrated the International Day of the Boy Child via her Young Doctors’ Forum (YDF), in collaboration with the Nigerian Medical Students Association.

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This 1st of its kind occasion was celebrated as a hybrid event with secondary school students nationwide who listened to a webinar themed: ‘Raising Male Champions’.

Speaking on the theme, the National President of MWAN, Dr. Minnie Oseji described the boy child as an endangered species that needed focus and guidance to ensure he stays on the right path in life. She lamented that something goes wrong between the shouts of joy at the birth of a boy and the weeping when he is convicted of a crime.

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The Young Doctors’ Forum Coordinator, Dr. Evonemo Esievoadje, in her welcome remarks, stated that even as a mother doesn’t distinguish between her male and female children, MWAN is determined to ensure the boy child is not neglected by the world, as every time a male goes astray and is punished by the justice system, a mother becomes heartbroken somewhere. Thus, the celebration is in line with the MWAN motto: ‘Matris Animo Currant’ which means ‘Healing with the love of a mother’.

The webinar had prolific speakers such as Dr. Mohammed Askira who taught on ‘Guidance to Effective Leadership’. Dr. Askira, a Family Physician expounded on attributes of leadership such as honesty, integrity, goal-setting, and consistency in hard work.

The 2nd speaker, Mr. Chris Chukwunyere who taught on ‘Becoming a Whole Man’, is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Inspire World Foundation, a United States Atlas Corp Alumni, and a certified teenage and relationship coach. Using his life as an example, he taught that your background and environment does not define your future as you can become a whole successful man with purpose, vision, the right friends, focus, determination and God.

Adolescents from the following schools were present:
*Darum Ilm Academy, Zaria, Kaduna.
*Community Secondary Grammar School, Ikotun, Lagos.
*Abesan Comprehensive Junior College.
*Model Learning Secondary School.
*Graceville College, Asaba, Delta state.
*Okpanam Secondary School, Asaba, Delta state.
*Kingsfield College, Lagos.
*Keke Senior High School.
*Royal Mira School, Asaba, Delta State.
*Students from various schools in Katsina state who came together at one venue.
*Parents & guardians from all over Nigeria Addis Ababa logged in and had their adolescents participate.

There were also representatives from the Nigerian Medical Association, the Nigerian Red Cross, Association of Women Engineers, NASFAT Education Children Affairs, and Sexuality Education Consultants.

Jerome Teelucksingh (PhD) founded the International Day of the Boy Child on May 16th, 2018. It is about protecting boys from harmful societal influences. This day aims to draw attention to the often rocky transition of boys from childhood to adulthood and aims to help the boy child make better decisions.
It should be noted that gender equity can only be achieved when the boy child is properly nurtured and groomed to become a whole man.