Nigeria’s Neglected Sons: A National Imperative for Intervention By Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id
For many years, the global discourse on gender equity has, quite rightly, focused on the girl child. Yet, within this essential focus, a subtle but significant imbalance seems to have emerged in Nigeria. While we have diligently championed our daughters, it appears we may have, perhaps inadvertently, allowed the foundations supporting our sons to weaken. This is not a matter of competition; rather, it represents a critical realization: a society’s stability is intrinsically linked to the well-being of all its members, particularly those most vulnerable. Today, the Nigerian boy child increasingly embodies this vulnerability, often overlooked, lacking clear direction, and seemingly more susceptible to disillusionment.
The data illustrating the reality for the Nigerian boy child suggests a pressing national concern. While much national data understandably highlights the challenges girls encounter, specific figures pertaining to boys reveal what some might describe as a growing crisis of unrealized potential. Consider this: an estimated 7.4 million Nigerian boys are currently out of school. This figure represents a substantial population of vulnerable youth, potentially susceptible to exploitation. Furthermore, a significant 78% of boys aged 7-14 reportedly struggle with basic literacy or numeracy, which could severely limit their future economic participation and overall life prospects. This educational gap, if left unaddressed, may indeed become a significant societal challenge, as uneducated and disengaged youth often appear more prone to negative influences.
Tragically, the vulnerabilities these boys face extend well beyond the classroom. Nigeria is currently grappling with a severe drug crisis; a United Nations report indicates that 14.4% of its population aged 15 to 64, approximately 14.3 million people, report engaging in drug use. This prevalence, nearly triple the global average, seems to disproportionately affect young people, making them particularly susceptible to substance abuse. Such abuse frequently serves as a dangerous entry point to gang involvement, banditry, and extremism. The direct correlation between neglected youth and escalating national insecurity is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. As a result, Nigeria’s future itself could be at risk if the neglect of the boy child persists. The rising number of attacks by armed bandit groups and intensified violence from extremist factions further underscores the urgent need to address this profound youth vulnerability.
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In response to this deepening crisis, organizations like the Yargote Foundation have developed approaches that are both comprehensive and proactive. Under the leadership of Executive Director Anna Hussaini Pai, the Foundation strategically dedicates its primary efforts to the “Empower the Boy Child Project.” Rather than simply reacting to the consequences of neglect, the Foundation intervenes during the critical developmental years of ages 10 to 19. Their multi-faceted strategy rests on several key principles: fostering character and discipline by instilling emotional intelligence and family values to help counteract detrimental peer pressure; providing crucial mentorship, connecting boys with positive male role models to help fill what appears to be a pervasive guidance vacuum; offering essential educational remediation through learning materials and support to bridge the significant literacy gap; creating psychosocial support via “safe spaces” where boys can express their vulnerabilities without fear of judgment, a rare and invaluable resource in many traditional settings; and cultivating civic duty by engaging youth in meaningful community service, such as the impactful sanitation projects in Abuja communities like Kabusa, thereby fostering a profound sense of ownership and belonging.The tangible impact of the Yargote Foundation’s work is already becoming apparent.
The 2nd “Empower the Boy-Child Summit” in Abuja in November 2025 served as a vital platform, drawing attention to these alarming statistics and appropriately characterizing the situation as an urgent security threat. The Foundation’s practical efforts saw 47 boys enrolled in 2025, with 32 successfully completing six months of intensive mentorship, demonstrating concrete results in their intervention efforts. Their advocacy has even reached high levels of government, with young boys from the Foundation receiving the notable honor of witnessing a plenary session at the Nigerian House of Representatives in May 2026. This recognition was more than a ceremonial gesture; it represented a powerful symbolic acknowledgment by the state that the “boy child” must be re-integrated into the nation’s priorities.
As the world prepares to observe the International Day of the Boy Child, the Yargote Foundation’s planned Road Walk emerges as a potent call to action. This initiative is more than a simple march; it is a public declaration that the era of neglecting our sons should conclude. It strategically positions the Foundation’s vital local work within a broader global movement dedicated to ensuring that boys are equipped with the necessary resources, opportunities, and consistent support to thrive as agents of positive change. The theme of this year’s observance deeply aligns with Yargote’s core mission: to engage boys early, mentor them thoroughly, and empower them completely. The road walk serves as an urgent appeal to policymakers, community leaders, and parents alike to recognize that an empowered boy child is not a threat, but rather a strong ally of an empowered girl child, and indeed, of a flourishing nation.Ultimately, the Yargote Foundation is rapidly establishing itself as a significant contributor to value and transformative change in Nigeria. By successfully graduating boys from its rigorous mentorship programs and elevating its advocacy to the halls of Parliament, the Foundation is clearly demonstrating that positive change is not only possible but actively underway.
However, this substantial undertaking cannot be managed by the Foundation alone. The compelling statistics necessitate a unified, collective response. As we commemorate the International Day of the Boy Child, it is important that we commend and actively support initiatives like Yargote. Investing in the boy child is not merely an act of compassion. It is a strategic, indispensable investment in a more equitable, inclusive, and ultimately, a more secure and prosperous Nigeria.
Sa’id is a Communications Strategist. He writes from Abuja.
