By Moses Nosike

Stakeholders in child development, education and mentorship have called for greater attention to the upbringing of the boy child, warning that continued neglect could have serious consequences for families and society.

The call was made on Tuesday at the maiden edition of The Boy Child Blueprint: Character and Purpose, organised by The Odushu Foundation in partnership with Alerte Universal and the United Nations at the Glass House, University of Lagos.

The event brought together youth advocates, educators, parents, mentors and students to discuss the challenges facing boys and the need to raise a generation of responsible, emotionally balanced and purpose-driven men.

Speaking at the event, the founder of Alerte Universal, Dr. James Useghan, said the initiative was born out of concern for the welfare and development of the boy child, stressing that boys also deserve opportunities to be heard and supported.

According to him, while advocacy efforts for the girl child have gained significant attention over the years, there is a growing need to ensure that boys are not left behind.

“The reason for this collaboration is because we are concerned about the boy child,” he said. “Just as girls are encouraged to report situations and challenges affecting them, the boy child should also have opportunities to report issues and receive support.”

Useghan, a United Nations Peace Ambassador described the programme as the first of its kind and expressed optimism that it would lead to more initiatives focused on mentoring boys and equipping them with practical life skills.

He disclosed that members of the panel would be integrated into The Odushu Foundation’s mentorship network to provide guidance to boys in different fields and professions.

“These panelists are ready to mentor the boys and engage them. Whatever field they are interested in, they will have the right people to follow and learn from,” he said.

Founder of The Odushu Foundation and Special Guest of Honour, Mr. Karinate Odushu, said the organisation launched the initiative after observing what he described as a gap in advocacy efforts for the boy child.

He noted that while society has invested heavily in programmes for girls, the developmental needs of boys have often been overlooked.

“For a long time, our society has focused on advocacy for the girl child, but I realised that the boy child is being neglected one way or another,” he said. “A boy child who is not properly mentored today will definitely become a problem tomorrow in our society.”

Odushu said the blueprint was designed to help boys understand their identity, purpose and responsibilities within society.

According to him, the strength often associated with boys should be channelled positively towards protecting and supporting others rather than being used for violence, oppression or abuse.

“The bedrock of every society is its men. If the boy child is not properly brought up in character and purpose, there is a risk that those strengths will be abused rather than used for the common good,” he said.

Also speaking, the founder and Managing Director of Growtheon, Mr. Eric Okomado, described the neglect of the boy child as a growing social crisis.

According to him, society has successfully empowered many girls to become confident and accomplished women, but has not made similar investments in the moral and character development of boys.

“We have raised the girl child to become confident and successful, but we have neglected the boy child,” he said. “All the boy child needs to do, according to society, is grow up and take control, even when he has not been taught character.”

Okomado linked the rise in violence, internet fraud and other social vices among young men to the lack of proper mentorship and guidance.

“The message today is that we must focus on character,” he said. “When you are building character, you must focus on the process and not just the outcome.”

He stressed the importance of active fatherhood, urging fathers to become intentional in passing values and principles to their sons.

“The father must be a father indeed and not just a parent,” he said. “Boys need guidance, responsibility and examples they can emulate.”

Guest speaker Moyinoluwa Olutayo also underscored the role of parents in shaping the future of boys.

Addressing fathers, she urged them not to delegate their responsibilities to schools, religious institutions or society.

“I would like to say to the men who could be our fathers that they should not outsource fatherhood,” she said.

Olutayo argued that society no longer needs boys who are merely well-behaved but men who possess strong values and noble character.

“The society is no longer in need of boys who are simply good. Society needs men of noble character,” she said.

She urged parents to begin character training at an early age and encouraged mothers and guardians to address badges behaviour instead of excusing it.

“Be the loving mother who is willing to tell her son the truth because you love him enough,” she advised.

Olutayo further called for a redefinition of masculinity, saying boys should not be raised to believe that physical strength, aggression or emotional suppression are the only indicators of manhood.

“The boy child today will become the leader of tomorrow,” she said. “If we fail to train him properly today, society will bear the consequences in the future.”

Another member of the organising team, Shodayo Olorunshogo, said the programme was aimed at creating balance in child development advocacy.

“Most times, the focus is on the girl child, but now we want to balance things,” he said. “As the girl child is being developed, attention should also be given to the boy child.”

According to him, both boys and girls play vital roles in society and should receive equal opportunities for growth and development.

The event also featured contributions from students who participated in the programme.

One of them, Showunmi Alameen Ajayi, a student of Ajayi Crowther Memorial Senior Grammar School, said the programme taught him valuable lessons about discipline, persistence and personal growth.

“I have learned that I should remain focused on whatever I do and keep moving forward,” he said. “The boy child should not allow bad grades or setbacks to stop him from achieving his goals.”

Ajayi added that young people must invest in self-development, work hard and continue learning if they hope to achieve success in the future.

A major highlight of the event was the presentation of scholarship awards by The Odushu Foundation to outstanding students pursuing careers in medicine.

The foundation awarded N1 million scholarships to Fidelis Angela Omowero, a 200-level Medicine and Surgery student at the University of Benin with a CGPA of 4.83/5.0, and Oladele Adeola David, a 200-level student in the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Lagos, with a CGPA of 4.68/5.0.

The scholarships were presented in recognition of their academic excellence and commitment to their studies.

Participants at the event expressed hope that the initiative would spark broader conversations about the importance of mentoring boys and ensuring they grow into responsible, emotionally healthy and productive members of society.

Organisers said the programme marks the beginning of a long-term effort to equip boys with the character, purpose and support needed to navigate the challenges of modern society and contribute meaningfully to national development.