Over 7.4 million Nigerian boys are currently out of school, a figure that experts warn could spark a major social crisis if not addressed urgently.
The alarm was raised at the 2nd Annual International Conference of the Faculty of Education, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja, where youth advocacy group Boys Champions presented a paper on the plight of the male child.
The group said men in Nigeria do not live as long as women, face more deaths, and are six times more likely to take their own lives. They attributed this to cultural pressure, joblessness, and broken homes, noting that the struggles men face are often passed down to young boys.
Speakers at the event warned that if the boy child keeps being ignored, it could increase insecurity, break down families, and affect the country’s growth.
In order to address this challenge, Boys Champions has introduced new initiatives and plans, such as creating media platforms to talk about men’s mental health.
Leave feedback about this