* AS FUOYE ORGANISES SUMMIT FOR MALE STUDENTS
By John Odunayo
The Directorate of Gender Studies at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on December 5, 2024 took a veritable step targeted at promoting healthy living and strong moral character among male students.
The Director of Gender Studies, Prof. Sylva Uzochukwu, who spoke during the inaugural Boys Summit organized by the centre, said that the university was being proactive to ensure that the perfect girls being nurtured through various gender programmes did not end up marrying monsters.
The Summit, which held at the university’s main auditorium, with sub-themes including “Drug Usage and Abuse,” “Effects on Mental Health,” “Building Healthy Communities,” and “Taking Actions to Stay Healthy,” attracted faculty members, students and distinguished guest speakers within and outside the university.
Uzochukwu said, “This summit was organized to further reinforce all that was said to our first-year boys during their first year of essential activities organized by the Students’ Affairs Division.
“The vision of the Center for Gender Studies is to help create a world free of gender biases where men and women are gender-sensitive and embrace equality and equity”.
Uzochukwu, who said that gender meant different things to different people, said, “Gender studies focus on pressing local and global social justice issues. We examine how gender shapes people’s life experiences, knowledge and possibilities in relation to indigenous and racial identities, class, sexuality, age, ability, geographical location and more.
“Some may wonder why the Gender Center, which usually organizes activities for females, is suddenly organizing this for boys! The truth is that when we talk about women, it includes the women, their children and their husbands.
“That is why we say that when you educate a woman, you educate a nation. Yes, females are marginalized, traumatized and suffer injustice globally. As a result, there is a concerted effort to build up a girl’s confidence and resilience to empower them to succeed in the world out there.
“We, however, realize that the boys also have problems of their own and they are the ones to marry these girls. We don’t want to groom perfect girls only to marry them off to monsters.
“That is why the Directorate has called our first year boys here today to start a dialogue with them on their mental, physical and spiritual health. We enjoin our students to visit Gender Center whenever they have problems,” the don said.
Uzochukwu lauded FUOYE Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, for supporting the summit in cash and kind, including declaring lecture-free day for the 100-level students.
“We thank the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Planning and Institutional Linkages), Prof. Joshua Ogunwole and other members of the management team for their support in many different ways. We are always grateful to the Dean of Students for cooperating with us”, Prof. Uzochukwu said.
Fasina, represented by Ogunwole, emphasized the significance of the summit for students and staff.
Ogunwole, a former VC of Bowen University, noted that fathers would not tolerate anyone misbehaving with their daughters, underscoring the importance of treating women with respect and dignity.
The don lamented the decreasing presence of gentlemen in today’s society and urged male students to embody decency and integrity, noting, “A gentleman is not merely someone who graduates in character and learning; it’s about being decent and respectful, especially towards women”.
According to Ogunwole, resolving issues through physical violence reflects a lack of intelligence, adding, “Character comes first when we are looking to transform this country.”
Also speaking at the epoch event, FUOYE Registrar, Mr. Ibrahim Adesina Muftau, represented by Mr Sunday Ayodele Akinkunmi, congratulated the students on the privilege of studying at FUOYE.
Muftau, who stressed the university’s motto, “A tool that transforms lives,” emphasized the institution’s commitment to shaping students into responsible individuals equipped to face future challenges.
He told the students, “We want to catch you young so that you can be good ambassadors of the university” as he stressed the importance of instilling good characters in them during their time on campus.
The Registrar reaffirmed the university’s zero-tolerance policy for social vices and encouraged the students to take the summit’s lessons seriously.
A guest speaker, Dr Abolaji Paul Adekeye of the Department of Mental Health, Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, speaking on the topic, “Gender Equality and the Identity Crisis in Adolescence, explained how substance abuse often stemmed from lack of self-identity, noting that many young people turned to drugs as a coping mechanism for feelings of uncertainty.
Another speaker, Mr Emmanuel Adohoje, the Head, FUOYE Academic Affairs Office, who tutored the students on “Building Healthy Communities,” illustrated how they could contribute to a better future by adopting the principles in the concept of E-BUILD, a strategy for fostering healthy, thriving communities.
Also Professor Hilary J. Okoh of the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, FUOYE, in his lecture titled, “Necessary Actions to Stay Healthy,” emphasized the importance of mental, psychological, and social health.
Okoh, who urged male students to take personal responsibility for their health, stated that emotional stability and physical fitness were crucial for leading balanced and successful life, saying, “Being healthy is not just about physical fitness; it is essential to ensure your emotional well-being”.
The Director, FUOYE’s Directorate of Advancement Centre, Prof. Olubukola Oyawoye, expressed her delight in witnessing the student’s active participation in such an essential programme.
Oyawoye highlighted the importance of the summit in fostering the students’ growth and mental well-being, particularly in preparing them for adulthood, telling the students, “This programme will lay the foundation for your future, enhancing both your academic progress and physical health”.
FUOYE Students’ Union President, Comrade Olorunsola Mary Abiodun, in her inspiring speech, encouraged students to understand and respect the opposite gender.
The SUG president identified the many challenges faced by students, including coming from broken families or experiencing poverty and molestation, which might lead some to give up.
Abiodun advised, “If you want to succeed in life, you must rise above these challenges, recognize your worth, and embrace opportunities”.
