Intern’l Boy Child Day: Emmanuel Osemota Foundation Builds Self-confidence in Edo School Boys

…Rewards academic excellent with laptops

Rebecca Ejifoma

In celebration of the International Day of the Boy Child, the Emmanuel Osemota Foundation—an NGO active in both the US and Nigeria—has taken its advocacy a step further. This year, the foundation placed a spotlight on building self-confidence in boys, emphasizing the importance of good personal hygiene and raising awareness about the dangers of cultism and drug abuse.

The event set the tone for the occasion at Eyaen Secondary School in Benin, the Edo State capital, on Friday, May 30th.

This initiative aligns closely with the vision of the foundation’s founder, Dr. Emmanuel Osemota, a US-based Nigerian epidemiologist, whose guiding philosophy is: “Invest in a boy, build the future.”

Recognizing the urgent need to support boys, Dr. Osemota organized a free symposium offering advocacy, rehabilitation resources, educational supplies, mentorship, career guidance, and health awareness. The foundation also celebrated the boys’ achievements, encouraging them to strive for even greater success.

This approach perfectly echoes this year’s theme: “Building Self-esteem in Boys: Stand Up, Be Heard, Be Seen.”

“My organization has always been at the forefront for girls, women, and the elderly,” Dr. Osemota explained. “This time, however, my team and I turned our attention to the boys. We can’t leave them behind. They need strengthening too.”

By joining the global observance of the International Day of the Boy Child, celebrated annually on May 16th, the foundation reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive support.

Addressing the all-male student audience, Chief Operations Officer Dr. Ochuko Onovae noted that while much attention has been devoted to the girl-child over the years, the needs of the boy-child have often been overlooked. The foundation, he said, is determined to help correct this imbalance.

He emphasised that building self-confidence in boys should begin with teaching them the importance of personal hygiene.

According to Onovae, maintaining good personal hygiene—such as regular bathing, washing clothes, brushing teeth, and shaving underarms—not only helps eliminate body odour but also boosts their confidence in public settings.

Speaking on the theme: “Cultism and drug abuse”, the Chief Medical Officer of the foundation, Dr. Oghenekaro Hanunu, said both acts have sent young boys to their early graves.

She said that most boys today are being pressured to either join a cult or take drugs while still in their secondary school.

Hanunu said that when they are being pressured by their peers, they should relate it to their teachers or somebody they trusted and should not keep quiet about it.

She admonished them not to allow the efforts of their parents to go down the drain by joining the secret cult, noting that the state government has begun the demolition of property linked to cult related activities and kidnapping.

To further build self-confidence in their academic goals, the Emmanuel Osemota Foundation awarded an SS (Senior Student) II student, Moses Ehimache, who won the quiz competition.

The foundation also provided writing materials to the students, cheering them up to keep their academic fire burning.