Former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola has warned that Nigeria’s future could be at risk if the growing neglect of the boy child is not urgently addressed. According to him, millions of young boys across the country are being left without the education and support necessary to become responsible citizens.
Aregbesola, who also served as governor of Osun State, made the remarks in Abuja during the AfriCultural Fashion Show and Awards organised by the Global Awareness for Development Initiatives. He spoke on the theme of empowering the African boy child and stressed that society often places heavy expectations on boys without providing them with adequate support.
According to the former minister, many boys are growing up without the emotional, educational and economic resources required to succeed in life. He noted that while society expects them to grow into strong and responsible men, many are being left behind due to poverty and lack of access to education.
Aregbesola highlighted the alarming number of out of school children in the country, stating that millions of young boys roam the streets without formal education. He said many of them can be seen in cities and towns hawking goods, begging for alms or cleaning vehicle windshields in traffic just to survive.
He warned that leaving such a large number of young people without proper guidance and education could have serious consequences for society. According to him, some of these youths may eventually drift into crime, drug abuse or risky migration abroad in search of better opportunities.
The former governor urged Nigerians to demand accountability from government authorities to ensure that every child has access to free and quality education. He described education as one of the most critical investments any nation can make in securing its future.
Reflecting on his tenure as governor, Aregbesola said his administration introduced several initiatives aimed at improving education and youth development. These included free education, a feeding programme for about 150000 elementary school pupils, distribution of school uniforms and the construction of modern school facilities.
He also highlighted youth empowerment initiatives such as the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, which created job opportunities for unemployed youths in the state.
Aregbesola concluded by stressing that the future of Nigeria depends on giving both boys and girls equal opportunities to grow, learn and contribute meaningfully to society.
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