Debra’s Palace Initiative (DPI) has partnered with Canon Central and North Africa through its Miraisha Programme to deliver specialized skills training targeted at young males.
The partnership, executed under the second edition of DPI’s Creative Summer School, trained no fewer than 25 boys in photography, filmmaking, storytelling, digital creativity, editing, sound production, and graphic design. The two-week intensive program is designed to equip boys with marketable skills that can improve employability, support MSME growth, and steer them away from negative social influences.
Founder and Executive Director of Debra’s Palace Initiative, Mrs. Damlola Chinedu, said the program was developed to address the imbalance in empowerment interventions that often leave the boy-child without structured guidance.
“The world has rightly invested heavily in girls, and that progress is vital. But a generation of boys is being left behind. Many are uninformed, unmotivated, or pushed toward crime simply because nobody is paying attention,” she said.
Chinedu noted that millions of boys globally are out of school, while locally, many fall victim to peer pressure, cult recruitment, online fraud, and street crime due to the absence of mentorship and skill-building opportunities.
“When boys lack mentorship, society feels the impact. But when they are equipped with responsibility and skills, they become innovators, protectors, and contributors,” she added.
Speaking during the exhibition and certification ceremony, Mr. Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director, Canon Central and North Africa, highlighted the long-term social and economic value of investing in early creative capacity.
“At Canon, we are committed to nurturing young talent across Africa by equipping them with the tools and support required to thrive in the booming creative industries. Our collaboration with Debra’s Palace Initiative reinforces our belief that creativity is a catalyst for social transformation,” he said.
Ghani noted that Canon’s involvement aligns with its corporate philosophy of Kyosei, working together for the common good. Canon supported the program with professional cameras, including the EOS R50, EOS R10, and EOS M50, and pledged continued support through equipment loans to help boys practice and build confidence.
Since its inception, Debra’s Palace Initiative has mentored over 4,500 boys through creative learning, school mentorship, scholarships, and life-skills development. The organization aims to scale mentorship to 10,000 boys by 2026, positioning the program as a key contributor to Nigeria’s future workforce and MSME pipeline.
The exhibition revealed impressive outputs from participants, many of whom handled a camera for the first time but were able to create professional-level content.
Both DPI and Canon emphasized that the initiative should inspire policymakers, private sector players, NGOs, and communities to invest more in structured programs for boys.
“If we want a safer, stronger society tomorrow, we must start engaging the boy-child today,” Chinedu said.
With creative industries becoming one of Africa’s fastest-growing MSME segments, the initiative serves as a strategic model for youth employability, entrepreneurship, and sustainable talent development.
