GBV
By Angela Atabo
The Mario Pathfinders Empowerment Foundation (MarioPEF) has referred to as for the grooming of boys to embrace constructive masculinity as a technique for stopping gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria.
Pastor Eke Aki, the muse’s founding Executive Director, made the decision at MarioPEF’s Parents’ Leadership Conference, with the theme “Grooming Young Allies on GBV Prevention: Faith-Based Approach,” held on Thursday in Abuja.
The initiative was supported by the Ford Foundation in partnership with the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD).
Aki stated the initiative was designed to boost accountable boys who would develop into males that respect and honour girls and promote wholesome relationships between each genders.
“MarioPef came out of a vision to add value to families and the society in general.
So for us, this first outing, we call it the transition.
“The transition is grooming young allies to become men, when we say men,we mean positive masculinity.
“Men who will respect women, men who will honour women, men who will build strength in aligning with the opposite gender.So we are trying to raise responsible boys as allies.”
Aki stated the muse was established so as to add worth to households and society, including that the convention was its first outing below the initiative.
According to him, the programme seeks to advertise constructive masculinity by instructing boys that power doesn’t imply domination or violence however accountability, respect and partnership with girls.
“The initiative adopted a faith-based approach because its teachings on respecting and honouring women were rooted in biblical principles.
“We want to build from the church because everything we are teaching is scriptural. Respecting women, honouring women and being allies with women are scriptural,” he stated.
He famous that though males might additionally expertise GBV, girls remained disproportionately affected, making it vital to accentuate prevention efforts whereas encouraging male victims to talk out.
Aki referred to as on people and organisations to accomplice with the muse, stressing that stopping GBV required collective efforts slightly than the intervention of a single organisation.
He stated the muse was growing a guide and curriculum to assist the programme and strengthen its influence on households and society.
Aki urged Nigerians and organisations to go to [www.mariopeffoundation.org](http://www.mariopeffoundation.org) to discover alternatives for collaboration.
Earlier, the Keynote Speaker, Dr Otive Igbuzor, Founding Executive Director of Centre LSD, described GBV as a significant international and nationwide concern that required deliberate prevention methods.
Igbuzor stated that elevating a brand new technology of boys with constructive masculine values was essential to addressing the issue.
“In Nigeria, one in every three women has experienced gender-based violence, while one in every 10 boys has also experienced such violence.
“The way to deal with it is to prevent it.
And the way to prevent it is to raise new breed of people, especially boys.To groom young boys to have what we call positive masculinity.
“Being a man does not mean that you must be violent, aggressive, and domineering.That you can be strong with compassion and show the virtues of Jesus Christ.”
Igbuzor counseled MarioPEF for the initiative, noting that coaching, mentorship and consciousness might assist remodel attitudes and behavior.
He expressed confidence that grooming boys to embrace constructive values would contribute to constructing males able to selling peaceable and respectful relationships.
A participant, Gold Glasgow, described the convention as an essential departure from typical GBV discussions, which frequently centered totally on girls as victims.
Glasgow stated the emphasis on boys and males would assist them recognise their vulnerabilities, discuss their experiences and develop more healthy attitudes in direction of relationships.
She added that the initiative might assist boys develop into higher males and accountable fathers sooner or later.(NAN)
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa
