As we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, we are reminded of the importance of empowering girls to dream boldly, pursue their ambitions, break barriers, and become whatever they aspire to be. From the classroom to the boardroom, from the sports arena to the world of innovation, girls are increasingly making remarkable strides and challenging limitations that once stood in their way. These efforts are yielding results, and that is certainly worth celebrating.
However, an interesting conversation with a friend this evening got me thinking about an equally important issue: while we are intentional about affirming and empowering the girl child, are we giving the boy child the same level of attention, encouragement, and guidance?
For years, we have rightly invested in telling girls that they can be anything they want to be. We encourage them to be independent, responsible, enterprising, ambitious, and confident. We teach them to believe in their abilities, pursue excellence, and take ownership of their futures. And increasingly, we are seeing the results of these efforts.
But in the process, have we paid enough attention to the emotional, intellectual, and social development of our boys?
Are we teaching them to dream beyond societal expectations? Are we encouraging them to be responsible, emotionally intelligent, disciplined, hardworking, and enterprising? Are we creating environments where they can express vulnerability without being labelled weak, ask for help without being ridiculed, and pursue excellence without feeling that their worth is tied solely to their ability to provide or appear strong?
The boy child needs affirmation, too. He needs guidance, mentorship, encouragement, and the freedom to grow into a well-rounded individual.
We must recognise that boys do not automatically become responsible men simply because they are male. Just as girls need intentional guidance to develop their potential, boys need deliberate investment in their character, education, emotional well-being, life skills, and sense of responsibility.
One of the consequences of neglecting this responsibility is the possibility of creating a growing imbalance in the expectations we place on young men and women. We may raise girls who are confident, resourceful, ambitious, and prepared to navigate life’s challenges, while leaving boys without the same level of preparation. Eventually, these young people become adults who are expected to build relationships, families, and communities together.
We must be careful not to turn this into a competition between the sexes. The progress of the girl child is not the problem, and empowering girls should never be viewed as a disadvantage to boys. Rather, the goal should be to raise both girls and boys who are equipped to thrive individually and contribute meaningfully to society.
When we encourage girls to lead, let us also teach boys to lead with integrity. When we teach girls financial independence, let us teach boys financial responsibility. When we encourage girls to communicate their feelings and set healthy boundaries, let us teach boys emotional intelligence, empathy, and respect. When we prepare girls to become responsible partners and parents, let us prepare boys for those responsibilities, too.
Our sons will one day become husbands, fathers, colleagues, leaders, and community builders. The quality of the men they become will depend, in part, on the attention, values, opportunities, and guidance we invest in them today.
Affirming the boy child does not mean diminishing the girl child. We can celebrate girls without neglecting boys, empower women without overlooking men, and advocate for one without withdrawing support from the other.
True equality is not achieved by shifting all our attention from one child to another. It is achieved when every child receives the support, encouragement, and opportunities needed to reach their full potential.
So, as we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, let us celebrate the girls who are breaking barriers and rewriting narratives. But let us also remember the boys who need to be reminded that they, too, are capable, valuable, and worthy of investment.
Let us raise girls who know their worth and boys who understand theirs. Let us raise daughters who can stand strong and sons who can stand responsibly beside them. Ultimately, the goal is not to raise one gender above the other, but to raise a generation of responsible, confident, compassionate, and capable human beings.
*Chidinma Awak is an Abuja-based public relations and marketing professional.
