Lagos First Lady advocates holistic development for boys at 2025 Residential Workshop
By Adeola Ogunrinde
The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday called for increased investment in the development of young boys, emphasizing mentorship, skills acquisition, and character building to prepare them for future leadership roles.
Speaking at the three-day 2025 Lagos Boy Child Initiative (LBCI) Residential Workshop held at Lagos State Model College, Agbowa-Ikosi, in Ikosi-Ejirin LCDA, the First Lady stressed the importance of equipping boys with values, a positive mindset, and resilience to tackle societal challenges such as peer pressure, cultism, substance abuse, and mental health issues.
She highlighted the financial potential of trades such as carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work, stressing that skilled artisans are just as vital to society as professionals like doctors or lawyers.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu encouraged boys to embrace skill-based professions alongside academic careers, stating that artisans play essential societal roles and should never feel inferior to those in white-collar jobs. She also noted that men often excel in traditionally female-dominated fields like hairdressing and catering, underscoring that skill mastery transcends gender stereotypes.
“This initiative was conceived to ensure that our boys are not left behind. We must be deliberate about raising well-rounded individuals by providing them with the right skills, moral values, and opportunities to excel,” she said.
On the second day of the workshop, which hosted 200 boys aged 13 to 17 from public and private schools, orphanages, correctional facilities, and vocational centers, discussions centered on self-esteem, personal hygiene, mental health, and drug abuse prevention.
Addressing an educational visit to the Imota Rice Mill on Tuesday and a planned visit to Sonnex Plant on Wednesday, the First Lady explained that the tours aimed to expose participants to the State Government’s food security efforts and Sonnex Plant’s environmental sustainability initiatives.
She reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to youth empowerment, noting that initiatives like LBCI would help shape a generation of responsible men who contribute positively to society.
“The future of Lagos depends on the quality of young men we raise today. Let us continue to work together to empower our boys, strengthen our families, and build a greater Lagos,” she concluded.
The Chairman of Ikosi-Ejirin LCDA, Hon. Wale Anomo, encouraged participants to apply SWOT analysis in solving problems and emphasized hard work as key to success.
The National Coordinator of the Olave Baden Powell Society, Mrs. Feyisola Abiru, praised the First Lady’s dedication to supporting boys, adding that such efforts would foster a shift in handling life challenges and pursuing success.
The 2025 Lagos Boy Child Initiative officially began yesterday with visits to the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, and the Lagos State Chief Judge, Hon. Kazeem Alogba. The participants were warmly received at the Round House, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, and the Lagos State Judiciary, Ikeja.
