By Franca Ofili
The Ministry of Youth Development says it is dedicated to promoting policies and programmes that foster youth inclusion and social cohesion.
The Minister, Mr Ayodele Olawande, made the committment on Tuesday during an advocacy workshop in Abuja.
Represented by Mr Emmanuel Essien, Director of the Youth Health, Mental, and Psychosocial Affairs Department in the ministry, Olawande said ending Gender-Based Violence (GBV) required a collective societal effort.
The effort, he said, would involve families, schools, religious leaders, and government support through effective policies and enforcement measures.
“The ministry is committed to promoting policies, programmes, and partnerships that foster youth inclusion, civic responsibility, and social cohesion.
“Through youth platforms and community initiatives, we instill values of mutual respect, gender equity, and non-violence.”
He added that families must raise boys to respect girls as equals, schools should teach emotional intelligence alongside academics, religious and traditional leaders must challenge harmful norms, and media must amplify positive role models.
“The government must provide the enabling environment through policy, enforcement, and support services,” Olawande said, emphasising that guiding young people towards positive models of masculinity was crucial to shaping the Nigeria of tomorrow.
He further said, “If we empower them as champions of change, we unlock transformative forces capable of reshaping society for generations,” highlighting the importance of youth engagement in ending GBV and promoting positive masculinity.
Ms Yeye Dipo-Salami, Executive Director of BAOBAB, said men must be included in women’s development.
She shared examples of boys courageously intervening in domestic abuse, stressing that engaging boys improved society and national development.
Dipo-Salami explained that the workshop engaged adolescent boys as active allies against GBV, challenging harmful norms and promoting empathy, respect, accountability, and non-violence.
“It involved 100 male students aged 13 to 19 years from selected secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory.
“Students attended with male teachers to inspire transformative change.”
One of the participants, Mr Oluwashino Gboluwaga, said boys should redefine masculinity positively, support women, and work together rather than oppress or bully the opposite gender.
He added that the workshop helped them better understood gender issues so they could apply those lessons when returning to their communities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ten secondary schools from the FCT participated. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
