Abuja: 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 commitment 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.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, 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, the ministry aims to instill values of mutual respect, gender equity, and non-violence. Olawande emphasized 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. He pointed out that the government must provide the enabling environment through policy, enforcement, and support services, underscoring the importance of guiding young people towards positive models of masculinity for shaping the future of Nigeria.
Ms Yeye Dipo-Salami, Executive Director of BAOBAB, highlighted that men must be included in women’s development. She presented examples of boys courageously intervening in domestic abuse, stressing that engaging boys can lead to societal improvement 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. The workshop involved 100 male students aged 13 to 19 years from selected secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory, with students attending alongside male teachers to inspire transformative change.
One of the participants, Mr Oluwashino Gboluwaga, expressed that boys should redefine masculinity positively, support women, and work collaboratively rather than oppress or bully the opposite gender. He noted that the workshop helped them better understand gender issues, which they could apply when returning to their communities.