An NGO, The Silver Knights Humanitarian Foundation (SKHF) has evolved new initiative aimed at rescuing, rehabilitating and empowering vulnerable boy child in the society.
This is contained in a press statement by the Chairman of SKHF, Chief Gboyega Akin-Deko and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Ibadan.
The project 'The Boy Child Rescue Project' is targeted at policy makers in government, the media, NGOs, parents and guardians as well as the victims.
The foundation is also aimed at educating the community about the importance of providing equal opportunities to all children, regardless of gender.
There has been increased cases of sexual harassment, abuse, neglect, and abandonment of vulnerable young boys, many of them unreported due to lack of awareness.
"This situation has become exacerbated because most people mistakenly believe that only girl-children are susceptible and therefore require attention, care and support.
"Consequently, many unprotected, uneducated, homeless, neglected and frustrated boy children have taken to the streets, others to outlawed sects and criminal activities including drug and substance abuse.
"While some others have become tools in the hands of unconscionable politicians, all of these posing a huge threat to communal health and security," it said.
The SKHF said it had initiated first of a series of interventions among which was plans to organize a roundtable discussion on ‘The Festering Challenge of Vulnerable Boys on the Streets of Ibadan’.
It said that the objectives is to highlight the alarming menace and social consequences of vulnerable street children and discuss remedial policy options and actions required of stakeholders.
The SKHF said that programme is also to promote the concept of boy-children protection by articulating and enlightening stakeholders about the rights as well as responsibilities of this vagrant children to the community.
The programme is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, December 8th at Conference Hall of Space FM, Liberty Road, Ibadan by 11.00 a.m. prompt.
Dr Owolabi Babalola, a Physician, Politician and Social Philosopher would be the Lead Speaker of the programme to be moderated by Mr Yomi Layinka, a former Special Adviser to late Gov. Abiola Ajimobi.
Other discussants are Prof Kehinde Kester of the Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan(UI), Dr Ibrahim Uthman of Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, UI as well as Mrs Yejide Ogundare, Features Editor, Nigerian Tribune.
The SKHF would also on December 13th, hold a leadership/mentorship capacity building series of lectures for students of public schools at the conference centre of Lead City University by 9.00 a.m. prompt.
To round up its 2021 interventions, SKHF will hold a prostate cancer advocacy public lecture on December 15th at the Ibadan Polo Club, Eleyele road by 4.00 p.m. prompt.
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