Int’l Day of Boychild: EFCC, Others Decry Impact of Cybercrime on Youth’s Mental Health

Int’l Day of Boychild: EFCC, Others Decry Impact of Cybercrime on Youth’s Mental Health

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and various stakeholders have raised the alarm over the detrimental effects of cybercrime on the mental health of young boys in the society.

This was noted during the annual essay competition organized by the Great Achievers Initiative for Youth and Community Development (GAIYD) in Abuja.

The event, held in celebration of the International Day of the Boy Child 2025, focused on the theme “Boy’s Health and Wellbeing” and the essay topic, “Where are the Mentors? The Missing Role Models for Boy’s Growth and Development.”

The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, who was represented by the Commission’s head of Enlightenment and Reorientation, Aisha Muhammad, emphasized the urgent need for integrity and guidance among youth.

“Girls are just there for the enjoyment, either the boyfriends or the wives, and that’s it. They are just there as a supporters club, so the boys are the ones doing this,” she stated.

Olukoyede explained that the EFCC has established integrity clubs in primary and secondary schools to instill ethical values.

“We have zero tolerance clubs in the tertiary institutions, trying to catch them young, to instill the spirit of integrity and talk to them about what they should know, what they shouldn’t do,” he added.

The discussion highlighted the pervasive threat of cybercrime, which poses significant risks to the mental health of young boys.

The EFCC Chairman warned that cybercrime can lead to anxiety, depression, and stress.

“The issue of mental health and well-being of the male child is crucial and it is at the heart of the 2025 International Day of the Boy Child Celebration.

“The weight of secrecy, fear of detection, and potential prosecution can be overwhelming,” he cautioned.

Olukoyede therefore called for collective responsibility from parents, educators, and mentors to guide young people towards positive alternatives and foster digital literacy.

Also speaking, the wife of Ooni of Ife, Her Regal Majesty, Olori Temitope Enitan Ogunwusi, addressed the gathering, urging stakeholders to be proactive in supporting boys.

The Olori emphasized the importance of being a voice for boys. She challenged adults to reflect on their roles in nurturing boys.

“Who is going to be the voice for our boys? As a mentor, as a parent, as a guardian, are you a voice for your boy or for your boys? How have you been a voice for that boy child? For that son that you birthed?,” Ogunwusi queried.

The Olori further encouraged boys to recognize their potential and urged parents to be positive role models, emphasizing that the responsibility of raising boys falls on the entire community.

“You have God’s kind of mind. Everything that determines your future is right here in your head.”

The Keynote speaker at the event, Hon. Kayode Adaramodu addressed the critical issue of mental health, emphasizing the importance of healthy habits and open communication.

“You need to sleep well. Sleeping is very, very important. Exercising is very important. Open communication, developing open skills, positive information, embracing the good side of social media. Learning, connecting with people, and having opportunities to express yourself.  These are good ways of promoting your mental well-being,” Adaramodu urged.

He therefore encouraged boys to seek professional help when needed and to utilize mental health resources available to them.

“And you can also find professional help and resources. Psychologists are there. These are people who study human behavior, the way we think, the way we feel.

“The same way you have WhatsApp, the same way you have Facebook, TikTok, and other things like that, for entertainment. To also take care of your mental health related issues, there are apps out there that can help you to become mentally alert and resourceful,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Founder of GAIYD, Dr. Hillary Akpua, noted  the need for a dedicated focus on the boy child and expressed gratitude for the growing advocacy for boys.

“If you have not been paying attention to your boys, please start doing so. Send them for training where they can develop more because the girls you are training today might meet the boy you left untrained tomorrow. I’m sure you won’t want that girl you are busy training today to marry such an untrained boy.

“In order word, for the efforts we put into raising our female children not to be counterproductive eventually, we really need to do better in raising these young men God has blessed us with,” Akpua said.

The highlight of the event was the official launch of One Boy One Skill Project by Olori Temitope Enitan Ogunwusi. The project is aimed at engaging young male adults in different vacations to empower for the future ahead.