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| Remi Akano Chief Vision Steward Kingdom Men |
Kingdom
Men Global Network in association with several other ministries and men’s
groups has called on all churches to pray for men and boys on Sunday, November
19 to commemorate the 2017 International Men’s Day (IMD) on the theme Celebrate Men and Boys. Nigerians are also
encouraged to add a touch of blue to their attires that weekend in honour of
men.
A
media release signed by Kingdom Men’s Steward for media Strategy and Outreaches,
Dennis Onwuegbu, the ministry said it was collaborating with others to observe the
special day for men, to bring Nigeria into the fold of countries recognising
and honouring their men. There are over 60 countries of the world where
International Men’s Day has been celebrated annually.
Kingdom
Men and its collaborators, the release explains, is pioneering this maiden effort
prior to building a broader coalition of men to ensure that Nigeria will henceforth
join the rest of the world in the annual programme.
Excerpt from the Media Release:
As
a part of the celebration of that day, which happens to be on a Sunday this
year, churches are being called upon to set apart a few minutes during their services
for special prayers for men and boys. The focus of the Prayer is that Nigerian
men and boys shall grow in Christlikeness. Nigerians are also encouraged to have
a touch of blue in their dresses that day in honour of men for the sacrifices
they make as sons and brothers, husbands and fathers and as heads at home and
leaders in communities.
In
Port Harcourt, where KINGDOM MEN is holding the Inaugural edition of its forum
for the discussion of men issues, Men’s Breakfast Roundtable (MBR) on Saturday,
November 18, the International Men’s Day will be a major highlight with
goodwill messages from many men of God. The two-in-one event is scheduled for
The Hub Event Centre, 187, Peter Odili Road, Trans Amadi Layout at 9:00am
Speaking
on the essence of the Day, Kingdom Men’s Chief Vision Steward, Pastor Remi
Akano said “it will help to sensitise the public, governments at all levels and
the Faith groups on the need to pay closer attention to men and boys issues
especially as the country grapples with socio-economic, political and moral
adjustments.”
He
declared: “A little more attention to the peculiar needs of men will contribute
substantially to reducing many of our socio-political challenges; not because
they are the direct cause, but because they have vicarious liabilities as heads
of the most import single social unit, the family.”
 |
| Deji Irawo President Men Alive Network |
Also
speaking on the importance of the Day, Mr Deji Irawo, A men’s resource
technocrat, who runs Men Alive Network, MAN, emphasised the need to pay more
attention on the challenges that being a man or boy portend.
According
to him, “while the world seem to have done fairly well in devoting immense time
and resources to tackling women and girls issues, not much seem to have been
done in dealing with men and boys issues. The perception that the male has it
all in wrap is now being debunked when we consider the many challenges that the
society and family face due to neglect of the man.”
In
his own remark, Paul Osayande a pastor and gender equity campaigner, said
“this
year’s International Men’s Day provides us an opportunity to evaluate how well
we have done with the men and boys issues, engage the critical stakeholders
especially governments and the family to pay more attention to the men in our
society, and more than that, for the women to appreciate the men in their lives
as a way of reducing the rising cases of mental cases among men”.
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| Paul Osayande Founder P & H Cre8 |
It
is noteworthy that the International Men's Day (IMD) was borne out of the need
to focus on men’s and boy’s health, improving gender relations, promoting
gender equality, and highlighting positive male role models. In most countries,
the event offers an opportunity for men to celebrate their achievements and
contributions, in particular their contributions to community, family,
marriage, and child care while highlighting the usually under-reported
discrimination against men.
 |
| Dennis Onwuegbu Steward, Media, Strategy & Outreaches |
Founded
in 1998 in Trinidad and Tobago, International Men’s Day (IMD) has become a
rallying point for support for men and boys from individuals and social groups
across the globe.
Typically,
commemorating International Men's Day have taken the form of public seminars,
conferences, festivals and fundraisers, classroom activities at schools, radio
and television programmes, among others.
Men Issues
Across
the world, statistics indicate that men’s health is worse than women’s.
- Recent World Health Organisation (WHO) data shows that, while male life expectancy at birth in 2015 was 69 years; for females, it was 74 years.
- Women on a worldwide basis live 5 years longer than men.
- Over 95% of work place fatalities are men.
- 99% of combat deaths are men.
- Suicide rate is worse for men than women and averaged out, the rate of suicide for men is up to three times that of women.
- In western nations and some third world countries, men and boys are dropping behind in school and university.
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