The National Association of Seadogs—Pyrates Confraternity (NAS-PC) has commemorated the International Day of the Boy Child with a call for the establishment of a robust support system for the holistic growth of the boy child.
The celebration, which was organised in collaboration with the Association of Women Against Gender-Based Violence (AWAGBV), aimed to foster healthy competition and positive relationships among boys and between boys and others.
The event which is celebrated annually on May 16 with the 2025 theme, “Building Self-esteem in Boys: Stand Up, Be Heard, Be Seen”, urging parents to adopt modern parenting towards positive growth of the boy child.
Speaking at the event, the National President of AWAGBV, Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry, provided historical context and emphasized the need for education and policy changes to address boy child issues, noting progress made in making the boy child feel loved and valued.
Engr Adogbeji Egbonoje, Capoon of Oxbow Marino Deck of NAS-PC, highlighted the need for a world where boys can grow up feeling safe, valued, and empowered, free from rigid stereotypes that discourage emotional expression and overlook mental health struggles.
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He emphasized the consequences of neglecting these issues, including rising dropout rates, increased vulnerability to violence, and mental health crises among young men.
Engr Egbonoje reaffirmed NAS-PC’s commitment to child welfare and true gender equality, which includes uplifting boys alongside girls. He advocated for emotional literacy, positive masculinity, investment in education and mentorship, and open discussion of mental health for the boy child.
He called upon governments, schools, parents, and communities to create safe spaces for boys to thrive.
The event engaged an audience of over 100,000, raising awareness about the importance of focusing on the boy child. Highlights included a novelty football match between teams from BDGS, a boys-only school, and members of AWAGBV, as well as the investiture of role models for the boy child.
