Mrs Otti seeks action to uplift, mentor/protect the boy child
Nigerian
The wife of the Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Chidinma Otti, has called for national action to uplift, mentor, and protect the Nigerian boy child, in a groundbreaking move toward inclusive child advocacy.
Speaking in Umuahia during the state’s maiden celebration of the International Day of the Boy Child, she rallied stakeholders to confront the emotional, social, and structural challenges boys face in today’s society.
Delivering a compelling address themed “Building Self-Esteem in Boys: Stand Up, Be Heard, Be Seen”, the First Lady underscored the urgent need to cultivate environments where boys are emotionally nurtured, supported, and inspired to lead with integrity.
“Our boys are today’s heroes, not just tomorrow’s leaders,” she declared to a full auditorium of students, policymakers, and educators. “They face peer pressure, toxic masculinity, and silence around their emotions. But they must know: they are loved, they are valued, and they are capable of greatness.”
The First Lady used the occasion to highlight key government actions, including the domestication of the Child’s Rights Act and the enforcement of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law. Notably, she unveiled the imminent commissioning of a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) in Aba, an EU-RoLAC-supported facility that will provide medical, psychological, and legal aid to abuse survivors, including boys.
“This centre will close protection gaps. We are breaking the silence around male victims,” she said.
Mrs. Otti emphasized that alongside institutional support, positive male role models, fathers, uncles, teachers, and community leaders, are critical to reshaping masculinity and guiding boys toward “honour, respect, and emotional intelligence.”
Mrs. Otti’s message was mot merely symbolic; it was a strategic intervention. Her announcement of a Sexual Assault Referral Centre for boys reflects a new, inclusive frontier in child protection.
In her words: “Together, we can build a society that not only protects boys, but also believes in them.”
In her welcome address, Dr. Mrs. Maureen Aghukwa, Abia’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, lauded the First Lady’s follow-through on her earlier promise to institutionalize the Boy Child celebration. She noted that the historic event “marks a vital turning point” in recognizing and addressing the overlooked needs of the male child.
“Nurturing boys into confident, disciplined, and compassionate individuals is not optional, it is imperative for a just society,” she said.
Also representing the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, s Special Adviser to the Governor, Sir Kenechukwu Nwosu (on behalf of Commissioner Elder Goodluck Ubochi) called for an education system that marries intellect with empathy, and one that integrates counselling and mentorship into core curricula.
In a broader overview, Mrs. Oguama Ogechi Becky, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Women Affairs, traced the origin of the day, first marked globally on May 16 by the United Nations, to growing concern over boys’ disengagement from education and society.
“Dropout rates among boys in some Nigerian states surpass those of girls,” she warned, “Yet society still shames boys for asking for help.”
She stressed that neglecting the boy child leads to cycles of crime, poverty, and emotional dysfunction, with far-reaching implications for national stability and peace.
Media practitioner Lady Christy Michael led a lecture on self-esteem, urging boys to “focus on efforts over results” and avoid peers who diminish their confidence. Her address stressed that emotional intelligence, not bravado, defines strength.
In a heartfelt goodwill message, Amb. Onyinyechi Joy Nwosu, State Coordinator of the Child Protection Network (CPN), said:
“This day is a call to listen, to see our boys, and to uplift them with empathy and dignity.”
Comrade Victor Onyeanwuna Orji, Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Abia, pledged institutional advocacy to reframe damaging stereotypes around masculinity:
“Let’s redefine strength. Boys must be seen, heard, and healed.”
Interacting with our correspondent shortly after the event, the President General of a sociocultural organization known as Igbo Vanguard Group (IVG) and the President General of Ahuwa-Oboro autonomous community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state, Engr. James Nnadozie Uchegbuo, observed that the event captures a pivotal cultural shift in Nigeria’s child advocacy narrative.
According to him, while the girl child has rightly received decades of attention, the boy child now finds a voice and a platform in Abia State.
“At a time when social breakdowns and youth crime rates are rising, re-engaging boys as whole human beings, capable of emotion, empathy, and excellence, is a national priority”.
The event, held at the JAAC Building in Ogurube Layout, also featured a welcome song by students of the Special School for the Blind, as well as cultural dances, quiz competitions, spelling bees, and the ceremonial cutting of a celebration cake.