Nigeria's prospects are under threat due to the overlooked plight of young males, warns Aregbesola

Nigeria's future hangs in the balance if the escalating neglect of young boys persists, warns former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, who notes that millions of boys are being denied the education and support necessary to mature into responsible citizens.

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The former governor of Osun State highlights a disturbing disparity, where society expects boys to grow into strong, responsible men, yet many are being raised without the emotional, educational, and economic support required to achieve this goal.

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Aregbesola shared his concerns at the AfriCultural Fashion Show and Awards in Abuja, organized by the Global Awareness for Development Initiatives, where he spoke on the theme of empowering the African boy child.

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"The boy child is left to navigate a society that has largely failed him, yet expects him to be a good citizen, a patriot, and a nationalist," Aregbesola stated.

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Many boys, particularly those from impoverished families, are forced to take on responsibilities that far exceed their age, often leading to them dropping out of school to support their households.

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Aregbesola emphasized that the scale of the problem is already evident across the country, with approximately twenty million children out of school, roaming villages, towns, and cities.

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In various cities, young boys can be seen struggling to survive, hawking goods, begging for alms, or cleaning car windshields in traffic, Aregbesola observed.

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He cautioned that when a society neglects to provide education and guidance to large numbers of young people, the consequences can be severe, with some eventually turning to crime, drug abuse, or migrating abroad in search of opportunities.

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Aregbesola urged Nigerians to hold their governments accountable for providing free and quality education to every child, stressing that education is one of the most critical investments a country can make in its future.

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According to him, education should be free from the basic level up to pre-degree stages, while university education should remain affordable for the average Nigerian.

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Reflecting on his tenure, Aregbesola noted that his administration in Osun State introduced several initiatives aimed at expanding access to education and supporting young people, including free schooling and meals for approximately 150,000 elementary school pupils.

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His administration also distributed school uniforms and constructed large modern school facilities designed to accommodate thousands of students, in addition to introducing youth empowerment programs like the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme.

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Schools in the state also established character-building clubs to promote discipline, courage, and integrity among students, Aregbesola added.

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"If the boy child in Nigeria has no future worthy of living in, no other citizen can hope for a better future," Aregbesola said.

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He called on Nigerians to work together to build a society based on social justice and humanism, emphasizing that securing the future of both boys and girls is essential to the country's long-term development.