Stakeholders Push for Stronger Mentorship for Boys at Great Achievers Awards

Stakeholders Push for Stronger Mentorship for Boys at Great Achievers Awards

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Stakeholders at the 2025 Great Achievers Summit and Awards of Excellence have called for a renewed national commitment to raising morally grounded and emotionally intelligent boys who can become responsible leaders.

The event, organised by the Great Achievers Initiative for Youth and Community Development (GAIYD), held over the weekend in Abuja.

President of GAIYD, Dr. Hillary Akpua, said the organisation was created to correct what he described as a growing societal neglect of the boy child. According to him, discussions around child development have focused heavily on girls, leaving boys without the moral and social guidance required to build stable communities.

“A lot of people talk about the girl child, but without a good boy child, there wouldn’t be a better girl child,” Akpua said.

He added that the group aims to remind society of the importance of taking care of their boy child. Not just the educational part, but the moral part of the boy child.

He warned that poor societal upbringing has contributed to rising cases of molestation, divorce, and leadership failures, noting that “if you see a woman, the next thing is not to molest. It’s because we don’t have a good societal upbringing.”

Speaking on the doctorate awards presented at the event, Akpua said recipients were thoroughly assessed.

“The people that obtained the honorary award today have been scrutinized before they were nominated,” he said, describing the recognition by the American Management University as a thing of joy.

Delivering the keynote address, former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana, said the future of Africa depends on intentional mentorship that shapes both the intellect and emotional strength of young people.

He said the theme of the event; “Reorientation of the Male Child Mentorship in Africa” reflects “the architecture of our tomorrow, and that is being designed in the hearts and minds of our boys today.” He insisted that mentorship must go beyond teaching to modelling values.

“Mentorship is not a curriculum to be taught. It is a life to be witnessed,” he said.

Gana stressed the need to teach emotional intelligence alongside academic brilliance, warning that “an engine without a skilled driver is a hazard.”

According to him, Africa needs young people with both IQ and EQ in order to overcome stereotypes, toxic masculinity, and social divisions.

He argued that nurturing boys and girls must go hand in hand, describing the African female child as “the indelible co-author of our destiny.”

On his part, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Justice Mainasara Ibrahim Umar, said the role of parents remains central to shaping children who become responsible adults. He warned that technological advancements and modern lifestyles are creating moral gaps that must be addressed early.

“The quality of the children we raise today ultimately is what determines the quality of the man who will be terminated tomorrow,” he said.

He identified morality as the foundation for combating corruption, infidelity, poor governance and other vices, noting that “the absence of morality is the midway of all vices we are seeing.”

Umar said Nigerians must embrace unity, discipline and a sense of common brotherhood to build a stronger nation.

“We have a responsibility of mentoring the 64% of the young people,” he said, calling on leaders to uphold constitutional values and guide the next generation by example.

Highlight of the occasion was the unveiling of the books titled: “Unheard Voices of the Boy Child”- A book that explores the silent narratives and resilience of the male gender in a noisy world.

The annual event honoured individuals and institutions contributing to human development, youth empowerment, and community service across the country.