Benin Hosts Groundbreaking Conversations On African Boy Child As Evelyn Idubor Launches Two Books On Birthday – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

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It was a double celebration at the Edo Innovation Hub, I.C.E, Benin City over the weekend, as Teen/ young Adults Development Advocate and author, Evelyn Osahorion Idubor, marked her birthday and launched two books focused on what she calls “the missing conversation” — the African boy child.

The books: The Missing Conversation – Why Africa Must Invest in Her Boys and Raising Builders – The Blueprint for Developing African Boy Child, drew educators, health professionals, youth leaders, and development practitioners who agreed that boys can no longer be an afterthought in national development plans.

Delivering the keynote, Ms Idubor said Africa’s future depends on intentionally raising boys with character, skills and purpose.

“For too long we have focused on fixing girls and women, which is important. But we have ignored half of the equation. A society cannot be strong when her boys are broken, confused, or without direction,” she stated.

She explained that while The Missing Conversation diagnoses the neglect of boys in policy and culture, Raising Builders provides a practical blueprint anchored on character, skills acquisition, emotional intelligence, and purpose.

“We must stop raising boys to be spectators in their own lives. We must raise builders — men who will build homes, businesses, institutions and nations,” she charged.

Ms Idubor urged government, schools, faith groups and parents to mainstream boy-child programs in education and youth policy. She called for mentorship structures in schools and communities to guide boys from primary level to adulthood.

Guests described the launch as timely and courageous.

In her goodwill message, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Eugenia Abdallah, reiterated Edo State’s commitment to the total development of Edo children, including the boy child.

The Honourable Commissioner, who was represented by Mrs Ameze Emmanuella, commended the author of the books, describing the books as important resources for parents, teachers, NGOs and faith-based organisations working on child development.

Dr Oluwatoyin Ohenhen, Physician/Endocrinologist, UBTH, said the event filled a critical gap.
“I am happy for her today being a 2-in-1 event; celebrating a milestone year, her birthday; and launching two books in a conversation that is largely neglected. That is, the boy child. Lots of conversation across both international and local strata is about the girl child, and not much about the boy child. She is venturing into a niche that is emerging. I really celebrate her. She is a very dynamic person, a multi-talented and multi-faceted person.
To begin to give room for the conversation about the boy child, not to neglect the conversation about the girl child, but to begin to give the boy child equal attention as we give the girl child.”

Mercy Osaro, Instructor, X-Mind Engineering, also lent her voice, linking the books to the work of mind and leadership development.
“X-Mind Engineering is a subsidiary of the Crisled Institute of Mind Engineering, an ecosystem that focuses on leadership, personal transformation, and mind re-engineering. It was founded by Dr Christos Etoka. X-Mind Engineering Group is a leadership and human-development organisation committed to transforming minds and empowering individuals for excellence.”