By Ameh Gabriel
As Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate the 2025 International Day of the Boy Child, themed “Building Self-esteem in Boys: Stand Up, Be Heard, Be Seen,” the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called on families, schools, and faith institutions to prioritize the nurturing and mentorship of the boy child.
In a statement signed by Mr. Jonathan Eze, Special Adviser on Media & Publicity to the Minister, Hajiya Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized the urgent need to address the developmental needs of boys, noting that while national programming and advocacy have rightly focused on uplifting the girl child, the unique vulnerabilities of the boy child have often been overlooked.
The Minister expressed concern over the silent crisis that this imbalance has created, highlighting that boys are frequently left without adequate emotional support, mentorship, or protection, which impacts their holistic growth.
“Today, as the sun rises across our great nation from the creeks of the Niger Delta to the hills of the North, from the villages of the East to the bustling towns of the West we turn our hearts and focus to the boy child; often seen, yet not always heard; always expected to be strong, but rarely given the room to simply be whole,” she stated.
Hajiya Sulaiman-Ibrahim reiterated that the International Day of the Boy Child is more than just a calendar event but a call to action to raise boys with purpose and tenderness, courage and care. She added that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is committed to inclusive development that begins with the family, the child, and the community.
The Minister outlined the Ministry’s commitment to family cohesion and community empowerment through its programmed, aimed at touching the lives of children, particularly boys, across all 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria. She stressed that this initiative seeks to support boys who are vulnerable those growing up under harsh conditions, battling societal stereotypes, and struggling with emotional suppression.
She urged every Nigerian boy to “Stand up. Be proud. Learn. Lead. Respect. Dream,” affirming that they are “not invisible, not disposable, not just a number or a stereotype, but the beating heart of a nation that cannot afford to lose them.”
Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim also called on families, educational institutions, faith-based organizations, and policymakers to shift their focus toward the holistic development of boys, providing them with emotional support, education, mentorship, and opportunities to thrive.
“Let this era of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu be the era where we raise boys who understand that education is a birthright, mutual respect is a strength, and true leadership is grounded in character and kindness,” she remarked.
The Minister concluded with a powerful call to action, encouraging all sectors of society to transform boys not into dominators, but into change-makers leaders who can positively impact their families, communities, and the nation.
The statement concluded with a clarion call for policies, budgets, protection, mentorship, and opportunities for the boy child, reaffirming the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs’ commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind in the nation’s development agenda.
