The boys of Ebute Elefun Grammar School, Epetedo junior high school, Government Junior College and Government Senior College Ikoyi have been inspired at the King’s Club Mentorship Initiative curated by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency. (DSVA)
Executive Secretary, DSVA, Titilola Vivour Adeniyi at the Meeting held at the S.P.A Ajibade & Co Law Firm, said the initiative was geared towards promoting positive Masculinity among the Boys in Secondary Schools stressing the need to catch them at their youthful stage of life to which would make them cultured, prepared and well positioned in their space, for an ideal society in future.
She further said that beneficiaries of the Kings Club Mentorship Session are availed the impetus to brace up and take back what they have learnt and become peer educators and even within their environment.
“People often ask what programs we have for the boys. The Lagos DSVA has been engaging boys since 2018 and we are committed to embarking on more behavioural mindset initiatives for our boys.
“One of the ways we empower boys is through our Kings Club initiative, and we do this in partnership with the Ministry of Education. Over the period of 6 weeks, selected young boys are taken through our KC curriculum on topics such as: promoting positive masculinity, Gender Based Violence, Gender Equality, Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Health, their role as protectors, transitioning from boys to men, and other soft skills such as grit, tenacity and resilience.”
“We started with 40 boys drawn from 5 schools, and today we have over 2,500 kings club members across 50+ schools, and counting!”
“As part of the sustainability plans for the project, the Kings Club members have begun to meet with male mentors in the society who provide guidance and share key life lessons with them and during the mentorship session, the boys can ask questions bordering on how challenges can be overcome, addressing self-esteem issues, journey to success etc.
Vivour-Adeniyi pointed out that the club was initiated to re orientate the mindset of the students by impacting the required knowledge which is critical in ensuring the boys imbibe the culture of gender equality and equity which would in turn ensure our society is rid of all forms of Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
The Boys who are members of the Kings Club met with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Babatunde Ajibade (SAN)
Dr. Ajibade SAN with his wealth of knowledge and experience motivated the Kings to be diligent and committed to pursuing education with unwavering determination, as this was key to success. He shared his childhood memories and how he overcame the various obstacles to be able to get to the very top in his chosen career. .
Whilst also engaging the boys at the well defined session, Dr Ajibade revealed his journey towards becoming a successful lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and maintained the importance of cultivating a reading habit and stressed that to venture into the legal profession they must develop a passion for Law and Justice.
Ajibade emphasized that hard work accompanied by God’s grace is key to Success while he also told the students to , shun distracting vices, prioritize what truly matters, remain focused, and ultimately embrace gender equality and equity
Adejoke Ladenegan-Oginni
Lagos DSVA
20/10/2023
