World Toilet Day
I had a splendid time on the News Central TV Breakfast Show this morning. Yes! It was an amazing time sharing the awesome works Boys Quarters Africa has been doing and how we intend to change the world, a Boy at a time. We understand it’s absolute right to focus on the girl child, but it is now equally important to check the BOYS and be sure they are fine.
The divergent biases our girls and women daily face are perpetrated by Humans with scrotum and of course, living things who believe they are a superior social group. See, SOME Men are thrash and they are one of the reasons they’ve decided to merge the International Men’s Day, alongside World’s toilet day. (just joking)
Back to my interview story… Whilst the interesting conversation continued, i interjected and wished the delectable lady who was interviewing me a Happy International Men’s Day! Yes! And, oh yeah! She didn’t know. Please,who cares if today is the International Menascum or Menathrash Day? Abeg, today is just another day. I immediately corrected my nuances by appreciating all the Women on the Boys Quarters Train. My Board of Trustees Charman (Ruby), My Best Buddy & Board Member (Oyin), Operations Lead (Glory), Head of Finance (Tomi), Community Engagement Manager (Busayo) and our volunteers all over the world. Phew! Happy International woMEN day!
Honestly, i feel today is another day! Today is another day to realize that Men are Humans too. Another day to know that Boys and Men are victims of gender conditioning, socio-cultural norm, bad example, distorted modelling, violence and the likes. You should blame Men for some of the problems of Women, but who do we blame for the problems Men face? Boys are abused — Sexually and Domestically! Mtchew, who cares!
Today is another day to remember that a neglected boy child generally grows up to be a bigger danger to the society than girls. Another day to remind ourselves that it’s a BIG circle and we may just be ruining a future we claim belongs to a certain gender. A day to take off the veil that clouds our sight and enables the gender blindness, distorting our perception of the crisis of the Boy and Men-Tribe.
Today is another day to reiterate the need for quality education around patriarchy and how to help Men channel their aggression to a more purposeful matters. Another day to know that Men are Emotional, they are vulnerable and can be weak sometimes. Another day to help Men embrace their vulnerability and to stop shedding their tears in the toilet. Another day to help them not to repress their feelings and not put an armor around their heart.
Today is another day to stop the societal dogma and allow Men be Human. Maybe an opportunity to help Boys and Men come into their full potentials. Another day to celebrate the sacrifices our husbands, fathers and every responsible male figure in our circle.
Let’s have the day off! I really hope we come ogether to appreciate that today has been set aside to acknowledge the needs and challenges of Men around the world!
Happy International Men’s Day!
Solomon O. Ayodele. — Founder, Boys Quarters Africa (I am currently writing from Lagos, Nigeria) www.solomonoayodele.com
Instagram: @jeddy_solomon