Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has issued a stark warning over what he describes as the growing neglect of the boy child in Nigeria, linking it to rising insecurity, hunger, and collapsing access to education and healthcare.
Obi's Warning on International Day of the Boy Child
In a strongly worded message on his X handle, Obi said the International Day of the Boy Child should trigger urgent national reflection, stressing that the country is failing its children at a critical time.
Reference to Mandela's View
He referenced Nelson Mandela’s view that a society’s true character is revealed by how it treats its children, arguing that Nigeria is currently falling short amid worsening cases of insecurity, mass abductions, malnutrition, and poor investment in basic services.
Consequences of Neglect
Obi warned that without deliberate action to secure children’s lives and futures, the nation risks producing a generation deprived of education, values, and opportunity. He insisted that the boy child must be properly educated, skilled, and mentored to become a productive member of society, rather than being left to struggle in an increasingly harsh environment.
Quoting Frederick Douglass
Quoting Frederick Douglass—'It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men'—he cautioned that neglect today will translate into deeper social crises tomorrow.
Urgent Call to Action
He urged government and stakeholders to urgently prioritise child welfare and development, while encouraging young boys not to lose hope despite current hardships. Obi concluded by reaffirming his belief in a better Nigeria, insisting that 'a New Nigeria is possible.'
