Former Anambra State governor and 2027 presidential hopeful Peter Obi has called for urgent action to protect and invest in the Nigerian boy child, saying current levels of insecurity, hunger and underinvestment in education and healthcare are putting the country’s future at risk.
In a statement released Saturday to mark the International Day of the Boy Child, Obi cited Nelson Mandela’s remark that “there can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
He said the day should serve as a moment of reflection on the conditions facing Nigerian boys.
Obi listed severe hunger and malnutrition, lack of basic education and primary healthcare, worsening insecurity, mass abductions and social moral decay as key challenges confronting boys from birth.
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“It is widely accepted that children are the leaders of tomorrow, and rightly so. Yet, how can we expect them to lead effectively if we do not protect their lives and futures today?” he asked.
He argued that raising responsible and productive men requires foundational education, practical skills and mentorship in progressive values.
Quoting Frederick Douglass, he said, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men,” and urged an end to neglect and mistreatment of boys.
Obi said the society Nigeria harms today will hold the country accountable tomorrow, and called for a nation that safeguards children’s lives, invests in their futures and enables them to compete globally.
“A New Nigeria is POSSIBLE!” he added.
The statement was issued by Ibrahim Umar, spokesperson for POMR.
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