International Men’s Day International Men’s Day was created to draw attention to the need to support men. I am hopeful that in the coming years, more men will join such advocacy efforts. Today is all about celebrating both men and women who are committed to making a difference in men’s lives.Today, in commemoration of International Men’s Day, I’m spotlighting the incredible Uchechukwu Ekpere Paul. Uchechukwu Ekpere Paul is the CEO of Boy Child Advancement and Protection Foundation (BCAPF Global Initiative), a non-profit dedicated to boy child advocacy and well-being. Sit comfortably and enjoy our conversation below: Can we meet you, please? Hello, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ambassador Uchechukwu Ekpere Paul, and I am a Youth Development Expert and advocate.  I am the founder of several initiatives, including Diamond Youth Transformation Initiative (DYTI) and Nigerian Youth Decide (NYD), which focus on empowering youth across Africa Additionally, I serve as the C...

 To celebrate International Men's Day, I would like to honor the men and women who are involved in advocacy for boys and men in the Nigerian space and whom I have interviewed on my blog. I wish more men would pick up the gauntlet in the area of boys and men advocacy. 1. Boys Champion by Noel Alumona Website: http://www.boyschampions.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boyschampionsng?_rdc=1&_rdr Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boyschampions/ 2. Boys Quarters Africa by Solomon O. Ayodele Instagram: http://www.Instagram.com/boysqafrica Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/boysqafrica Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoysQAfrica 3. The iDealMan Initiative by Ojobo Agbo Insagram: https://www.instagram.com/theidealman_in/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/theidealman_in 4. Save the Boys Initiative by Ebuka Ede Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Savetheboysinitiative/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savetheboysinitiative/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SavetheBoy...

 In the heart of Makoko, a slum bustling with noise, Seun saw potential. Every corner was shadowed by graffiti-splashed walls, smoky food stalls, and the undeniable presence of young men who roamed in clusters. Their laughter, mingled with curses, was as sharp as the glint in their eyes—a glint hardened by a life that had offered them little. Seun had been warned about this place, told stories of gang rivalries and the chokehold that cultism held on the youth. But as he packed his bags that morning, ready to move to Makoko, Seun knew that this was where he wanted to be. He had come from a similar place, and had seen firsthand how life in such corners could devour dreams whole. So, although family and friends expressed concerns, he was so convinced that he moved with resolve. When he relocated, the place welcomed him with a harsh air that hurt his throat and a tense atmosphere that made him feel unwelcome. Yet, he took it all in good faith. With time, he settled nicely, got the hang...

 On October 11, 2024, Roseline Adewuyi, alongside The Chosen Inspiraa Foundation and AfricHer Rising, successfully organized a vibrant celebration for the International Day of the Girl Child, themed "Girls’ Vision for the Future." The event took place at the BNI Youth Centre, U&I Building, opposite Idia Hall at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, commencing at 9:00 am. The program was convened by a dynamic trio: Roseline Adewuyi, Funmilayo Omodara, and Lady Ifeoluwa Oyatokun, who collectively emphasized the importance of empowering young girls to envision and create a better future. The event was expertly moderated by Tomi Omotoso, ensuring a seamless flow of activities throughout the day. The lineup of speakers featured influential voices such as Deborah Adelaja and Solomon Ayodele, who shared insightful perspectives on the challenges and opportunities girls face today. The highlight of the program was an engaging panel discussion with panelists including Esther ...

 Every year, to mark International Day of the Girl (IDG), we celebrate the bold aspirations, dreams, and potential of girls around the world. This year is no different. With the theme "Girls' Vision for the Future," the focus is on empowering young girls to imagine, articulate, and pursue the futures they envision—free from the limitations imposed by gender, culture, or society. Girls today are increasingly taking charge, raising their voices, and breaking barriers in areas like education, technology, health, and leadership. They are redefining what it means to be powerful by leading movements that challenge stereotypes and push for more equitable opportunities. IDG 2024 encourages all of us to listen to and support these visions. Whether through advocacy for equal education, access to digital tools, or the dismantling of harmful social norms, this day serves as a reminder that the future girls dream of will shape a better world for everyone. When we create an environment...

  Roseline in conjunction with The Chosen Inspiraa Foundation  @thechoseninspiraa  and AfricHer Rising  @africherrising  presents TikTok Competition to mark International Day of the Girl Child 2024. Theme : Girls' Vision for the Future. Join the challenge to Envision a Better Future for Girls! How to join: • Record or make a video with a duration between 1 to 3 minutes. • Kindly create a video showcasing your vision for girls in the future in one sphere of life or different spheres of life. (No talking in the video, but text with background music or audio can be used to convey the message) • Submit your videos on TikTok, Instagram, or via email. Submission Channels: Participants can choose to submit their videos through any of the mediums that is convenient for them. • Through TikTok with the hashtag  #IDG2024  and kindly tag  @AdewuyiRoseline  or • Through Instagram with the hashtag  #IDG2024  and kindly tag  @AdewuyiRoseline...

  Roseline in conjunction with The Chosen Inspiraa Foundation   @thechoseninspiraa   and AfricHer Rising   @africherrising   presents International Day of the Girl Child 2024. Theme: Girls' Vision for the Future Convener: Roseline Adewuyi, Funmilayo Omodara  @funmilayoomodara  and Lady Ifeoluwa Oyatokun  @ifeoluwa.oyatokun MC : Tomi Omotoso  @tomi_omotoso Speakers: Deborah Adelaja  @adelaja_deborah  and Solomon Ayodele  @thesolomonayodele Panelists: Esther Soluade, Boluwatife Aboderin  @_thelastborngirl  , Precious Isola and Tomilayo Olatunde  @oluwatomilayo__ Partners: Building Nations Initiative - BNI  @bninitiative  , Kasot Press and Ifad Initiatives  @ifadinitiatives Venue: Venue: BNI Youth Centre, U&I Building, Opposite Idia Hall, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Nigeria Date: Friday, 11th of October 2024 Time: 10:00 am For sponsorship and partnership, kindly send a WhatsApp message to Roseli...

  Together for a Period Friendly World   After so many campaigns about menstrual hygiene you would think by now that menstruation would be readily accepted but the stats below paint a different picture.   ●       1 in 10 girls in Africa miss school during their period due to lack of awareness and accessibility of menstrual products.   ●       500 million people worldwide lack access to menstrual products leading to health issues.     We need to go back to the drawing board but it is with great honour that I celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day. This is a day that affords us the chance to talk about this important phenomenon, making girls and women feel comfortable, safe and secure.   Let's take a brief look at the timeline of Menstrual Hygiene Day.   ●       In 2012, public health organizations began to address menstrual hygiene management (MHM) globa...

  Boychild advocacy has become increasingly popular in recent times. More people are awakening to the fact that boys need help too. They need to be taught away from the stereotypes and biases that have filled many cultures. Every now and then, there are complaints and misconceptions about how advocacy is just all about the Girl Child and Women. While the strong emphasis on the female gender was necessary, it doesn’t make sense to leave the men behind. This is why from time to time; I shine the spotlight on incredible people championing causes for the boy child. I recently had a chat with Temitope Ayoola, a Boychild advocate whose approach to empowering boys is holistic. Her approach cuts across education, health, charity, research and so on. All facets of their vision are aimed at raising boys who contribute meaningfully to society. Grab some cold drink, let’s dive in. Can we meet you, please? Yes, please. My name is Ayoola Oluwanifemi Temitope. I am passionate about social develop...

 Cool Boys: Managing anger and aggression. I am excited to celebrate the International Day of the Boy Child, a day dedicated to recognizing the often-overlooked needs of boys. As someone who has worked with both boys and girls, I would say boys also need to be equally cared for. I won't touch much on gender stereotypes yet but this I will say, boys have had their own share of the rotten steak.  Did you know that boys are more likely to be victims of violent crimes and 5 times more predisposed to end up in juvenile detention? They are also more likely to abuse drugs; and in some African countries, the boy child is twenty times more prone to imprisonment in contrast to girls. These stats are unsettling and trash the notion that society is fair on the boy child. The truth is that society is unfair to both boys and girls. Society's expectations of boys and men can be harmful, pressuring them to be tough, masculine, and competitive. They are often discouraged from expressing emotio...

 Hello everyone! Today is a special day – it is my birthday! On my birthday, I am grateful to God for the gift of another year of life and the blessings He has bestowed upon me. The past year has been amazing, and I am blessed for the opportunities and experiences. As I add another year, I look forward to conquering new territories. To make this day interactive and fun, I would love to know how well you know me and to that effect, I have prepared a short quiz with questions about my interests. The first three people who answer all the questions correctly, there is a special thing for you 😊 1. Where I wear my wristwatch 1. Where I wear my wristwatch Left hand Right hand Both hands I am not a huge fan of wrist watches 2. What I am always with My books My tablet My handbag My headphones 3. What I am good with Directions and road navigation Remembering names and faces Keeping track of locations Dates 4. Favorite social media platform Instagram Facebook TikTok Twitter 5. My dream count...

 The Power of Mentorship The theme for this year's International Girls in ICT Day is Leadership. I love to mentor because I am interested in the growth and advancement of the younger generation. I know this is an old saying, but they are the leaders of tomorrow.  One day, I asked some mentees to write an essay about an instance where a mentor helped someone they know or themselves achieve targeted goals. The essays were brilliant. I would have shared all, but the one I am about to share resonates with the theme of this year's International Day of Girls in ICT, which is Leadership.  It's no news that women are still absent from key positions in policy making, software designing, and research. The few women present in these fields have junior or support roles, which makes them less likely to be entrepreneurs, CEOs, or policymakers.  Data from Anita Borg Institute reveals that women with mentors in the tech industry were 77% more likely to still be in tech after 3 ...

Empowering Women - Bridging the Gender Gap in The Workforce Through Investment and Innovation Rita's knees dropped to the ground as soon as her grandmother delivered the news.  At that moment, life was meaningless, and she longed to die with her father. She was all that was left of the Briggs family –her mother died during childbirth.  About 19 years ago, Mrs. Briggs had gone into early labour while volunteering as a doctor in a rural area. She started bleeding but was able to birth the child. However, the baby was premature. Unfortunately, there were no incubators, the baby, and mother died.  Rita intended to build a solar-powered incubator so that babies could have a chance at life. At first, it seemed unrealistic, but her father made her see reasons to push forward. She made him promise to pitch it to his bosses because she lacked the confidence. “You should pitch it yourself.” He insisted. Grief stricken, Rita abandoned the project after her father's death. However, m...