● Boys Champions, ActionAid, Oxfam: “Nigerian boy child is not failing; he is being failed”
Three leading civil society organisations have urged the Federal Government to urgently commission new national research, strengthen child protection policies, and significantly increase education funding to address what they call the worsening neglect of Nigerian boys.
In a joint statement to mark the 2026 International Day of the Boy Child, Boys Champions Foundation, ActionAid Nigeria and Oxfam in Nigeria warned that Nigeria risks deepening inequality and insecurity without deliberate investment in boys’ welfare and development.
The groups noted Nigeria has not conducted a nationally representative assessment of violence, abuse and neglect affecting children since the 2014 Violence Against Children Survey, VACS.
“For over a decade, the Nigerian boy child has been virtually invisible in our national data. This is not just a statistical oversight; it is a profound crisis of inequality,” Oxfam in Nigeria Country Director Tijani Hamza said.
The CSOs said the data gap has contributed to the continued exclusion of vulnerable boys from social protection, education and welfare programmes, especially those affected by the Almajiri system, street migration and school abandonment.
Boys Champions Foundation Founder Noel Alumona argued that boys face enormous expectations early but lack support systems to succeed.
“The Nigerian boy child is not failing; he is being failed,” Alumona said, stressing that change requires deliberate investments, effective institutions and collective commitment from government and society.
ActionAid Nigeria Country Director Dr. Andrew Mamedu warned of long-term consequences: “If we fail to invest intentionally in the boy child today, society will pay tomorrow,” noting that boys raised without care, guidance and opportunities carry those deficits into adulthood.
The coalition outlined urgent demands:
1. New survey: Immediately commission a fresh Violence Against Children and Youth Survey to provide updated evidence on boys’ experiences and vulnerabilities nationwide.
2. Policy inclusion: Explicitly include boys in child protection, social welfare and education policies, targeting groups affected by Almajiri, street migration and school dropout.
3. Higher funding: Substantially increase education funding. Current allocation at 7.3% of the national budget falls short of international benchmarks. The CSOs urged FG to raise spending toward UNESCO’s 15-20% recommendation, insisting stronger education investment is key to protecting vulnerable children and securing the country’s future.
The appeal comes as stakeholders commemorate the International Day of the Boy Child under the theme: “Breaking the Silence: Boys and Mental Health: Investing in Boys for Stron.ger Families.”
