Former Minister,  Rauf Aregbesola has called for urgent intervention by both government and society to tackle what he described as the growing neglect of the boy child in Nigeria, warning that the nation risks serious social consequences if millions of young boys continue to be abandoned and denied access to proper education.

Aregbesola made the call in Abuja at the maiden edition of the AfriCultural Fashion Show and Awards organised by Global Awareness for Development Initiatives.

Speaking on the theme, Empowering the African Boy Child, the former minister stressed that although sustained advocacy for the girl child remains necessary, equal attention must now be given to the challenges confronting boys across the country.

He noted that many boys are burdened with huge social expectations, yet are left without the emotional, moral and economic support required to develop into responsible adults.

According to him, society expects boys to become disciplined citizens, patriots and nationalists despite offering little guidance and care during their formative years.

“The boy child floats and sinks in a society that has largely failed him but expects him to be a good citizen, a patriot and a nationalist,” Aregbesola said.

He warned that failure to address the situation could deepen social instability and undermine the country’s future development.