Stakeholders at the 2025 Great Achievers Summit and Awards of Excellence have called for a renewed national commitment to producing emotionally aware and morally grounded boys.
The event, organised by the Great Achievers Initiative for Youth and Community Development (GAIYD), was held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Jerry Gana, a former Minister of Information and National Orientation, 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 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.”
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 caring for their boy child, not just the educational aspect but also the moral aspect of the boy child.
He warned that poor societal upbringing has contributed to rising cases of molestation, divorce, and leadership failures, noting that
In his remarks, the 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 root of all vices we are seeing.”
A highlight of the occasion was the unveiling of the book 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.