The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, and the Chief Executive Officer, Mudi Africa, Mudiagha Clement, have charged male children to remain disciplined and focus on achieving their desired career choices.
They said that through this, the boys could achieve their dreams irrespective of their background and career path in the country.
Both personalities were among panelists at the final third day of the residential workshop tagged Lagos Boy Child Initiative, LBCI organized by Lagos State First Lady, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, held in Agbowa-Ikosi Model College.
Over 200 boys selected from both private and public schools, orphanages, and technical schools were part of the three-day workshop. The 2025 edition was the third in its series with the first and second editions held in 2022 and 2024 and over 400 school boys benefitting.
While addressing the boys, Wahab urged them not to allow their background to limit their purpose in life. He also advised them to be consistent in what they want to achieve and avoid distractions.
“Find your purpose in life. Don’t look at your background and don’t allow it to limit you. Ensure you have discipline. Have the courage to say no at times and learn to speak out. Be consistent and don’t get distracted. Don’t chase money, chase your dreams and the money will come,” Wahab added.
“Don’t be discouraged by the circumstances of your birth or environment. Every boy child should have a clear vision of what he wants in life.”
He commended the First Lady, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for organising an initiative that focuses on boy children rather than girls which have always been the norm.
“When we nurture a boy child, we are nurturing the pillar of a home,” he said.
Emphasizing the need for discipline, Mudi counseled the boys on self-improvement adding that no matter the talent they have, without discipline their growth will be minimal.
“You must have a vision. No matter how talented you are, you must have discipline. Improve yourself and focus on your education, ” Mudi said.
The climax of the three-day workshop was a cooking competition among five groups of five boys each.
Each member of the group that came first (Team Ikeja) received a shopping voucher of N100,000 while each member of each group came second (Team Lagos Island). and third (Team Epe)received a shopping voucher of N50,000.
Some of the boys thanked the First Lady for the initiative. Oluwole Oluwatoba from St Thomas Catholic School said the knowledge gained during the three-day camping will be useful in his career.
“I love the way everything was organized. I want to thank the First Lady for the program. I have learnt we should go against drug abuse, rape, and gender-based violence. We thank her for this initiative,” he said.
Nwokorie Emmanuel of AirForce Secondary School, Shasha said;¹”I have learnt a lot of things. I met the deputy governor of Lagos State and the Chief Judge. I thank Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu for giving me the opportunity to be part of this programme.”
