LightRay Media, Stakeholders Launch Grassroots Campaign to Tackle ‘Boy-Man Crisis,’ Gender-Based Violence
Oru Leonard
A new community-driven initiative aimed at addressing the rising concerns over the upbringing of young boys and escalating gender-based violence has been launched in Ozoro, Delta State, through a partnership between LightRay Media and the leadership of the Ozoro Kingdom.
The collaboration, led by Founder and Publisher of LightRay Media, Lady Ejiro Umukoro, and the President General of Ozoro Kingdom, Berkley Elo Asiafa, is designed to confront what stakeholders describe as a growing “Boy-Man crisis” rooted in poor parenting and harmful social norms.
Speaking during a strategic meeting with community leaders, Lady Umukoro emphasized the urgent need to reshape societal values through targeted Development Communication (DEVCOMM) strategies. She warned that the absence of empathy, accountability, and respect in the upbringing of boys continues to fuel violence against women and girls.
She pointed to provisions of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act, noting that offenders, including minors, face severe penalties for sexual offences. However, she stressed that beyond legal enforcement, long-term cultural reorientation remains critical.
According to her, “the goal is to raise a generation of boys who see respect for women as fundamental, thereby creating safer communities.”
Highlighting the local realities, Asiafa drew attention to the increasing number of abandoned and homeless boys in the community, many of whom are exposed to exploitation and criminal influences. He described the situation as a pressing social challenge requiring urgent intervention from both families and community structures.
As part of the initiative, both parties outlined key programmes, including parenting workshops, youth mentorship schemes promoting positive masculinity, and public awareness campaigns focused on ending harmful gender norms. There are also plans to strengthen advocacy for the enforcement of laws protecting women and children.
The initiative also extends to addressing recent reports of sexual violence linked to the Aramudu Aluedhor Festival in Ozoro. LightRay Media is working with security agencies to ensure that perpetrators are identified and prosecuted, while calling for an end to the misuse of cultural events as cover for criminal acts.
Lady Umukoro condemned the reported abuses, describing them as criminal acts rather than cultural expressions, and urged communities to reject traditions that enable violence.
The efforts have received commendation from key stakeholders, including Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, who praised the initiative for confronting deep-rooted societal issues. The Delta State Police Command, through its spokesperson DSP Bright Edafe, also pledged support in ensuring accountability for offenders.
Similarly, Chairman of Isoko North Local Government, Godwin Ogorugba, assured that commitments made to survivors of recent incidents would be fulfilled.
The Ozoro leadership has pledged full cooperation, with plans to mobilize traditional institutions, schools, and community groups to sustain the campaign. Upcoming activities include town hall meetings, school outreach programmes, and broader stakeholder engagements aimed at fostering cultural and behavioral change.
With growing national attention, LightRay Media Boss. Lady Ejiro Umukoro says her organization will continue to provide updates on the initiative as it seeks to drive long-term reforms and promote a safer, more equitable society.
