The federal government has urged relevant stakeholders to collaborate in mentoring the boy-child for them to become responsible, productive, and value-driven members of the society.
This appeal was made by the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, in a keynote address to mark the 2025 International Day of the Boy-Child in Abuja, weekend.
The theme for this year’s celebration was, “Grooming the Boy-Child and Leveraging Mentorship for Leadership and Governance.”
According to the minister, today’s society faces a critical challenge where many fathers and male role models have limited involvement in the lives of their sons, often due to time constraints. This, he noted, could negatively impact the emotional and moral development of the boy-child.
Comrade Olawande added that mentorship is crucial to the development of the boy-chid as it offers them the guidance, counsel, and encouragement they need to grow into confident and capable future leaders.
He noted that, “without positive role models, our boys may lack the values and life skills required to thrive in society,” emphasising the importance of helping boys to navigate academic pressures, societal expectations, and personal challenges through intentional guidance and support systems.
He maintains that the boy-child is a vital part of our society, hence it is our collective duty to provide opportunities for empowerment, regardless of background or economic status.
The event was graced by prominent figures, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, Director General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, Director General, Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), Eniade Adesoji, Dr. Israel Olajumoke, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) House of Destiny, and Hon Rinsola Abiola, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Citizenship and Leadership (CL), among others.