By David, Torough Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and various stakeholders have raised the alarm over the detrimental effects of cybercrime on the mental health of young boys in the society.

This was noted during the annual essay competition organized by the Great Achievers Initiative for Youth and Community Development (GAIYD) in Abuja.

The event, held in celebration of the International Day of the Boy Child 2025, focused on the theme “Boy’s Health and Wellbeing” and the essay topic, “Where are the Mentors? The Missing Role Models for Boy’s Growth and Development.

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The Chairman, Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, who was represented by the Commission’s head of Enlightenment and Reorientation, Aisha Muhammad, emphasized the urgent need for integrity and guidance among youth.

“Girls are just there for the enjoyment, either the boyfriends or the wives, and that’s it. They are just there as a supporters club, so the boys are the ones doing this,” she stated.

Olukoyede explained that the EFCC has established integrity clubs in primary and secondary schools to instill ethical values.

“We have zero tolerance clubs in the tertiary institutions, trying to catch them young, to instill the spirit of integrity and talk to them about what they should know, what they shouldn’t do,” he added.

The discussion highlighted the pervasive threat of cybercrime, which poses significant risks to the mental health of young boys.

The EFCC Chairman warned that cybercrime can lead to anxiety, depression, and stress.

“The issue of mental health and well-being of the male child is crucial and it is at the heart of the 2025 International Day of the Boy Child Celebration.

“The weight of secrecy, fear of detection, and potential prosecution can be overwhelming,” he cautioned.

Olukoyede therefore called for collective responsibility from parents, educators, and mentors to guide young people towards positive alternatives and foster digital literacy.

Also speaking, the wife of Ooni of Ife, Her Regal Majesty, Olori Temitope Enitan Ogunwusi, addressed the gathering, urging stakeholders to be proactive in supporting boys.

The Olori emphasized the importance of being a voice for boys. She challenged adults to reflect on their roles in nurturing boys.

“Who is going to be the voice for our boys? As a mentor, as a parent, as a guardian, are you a voice for your boy or for your boys? How have you been a voice for that boy child? For that son that you birthed?,” Ogunwusi queried.

The Olori further encouraged boys to recognize their potential and urged parents to be positive role models, emphasizing that the responsibility of raising boys falls on the entire community.

“You have God’s kind of mind. Everything that determines your future is right here in your head.”

The Keynote speaker at the event, Kayode Adaramodu addressed the critical issue of mental health, emphasizing the importance of healthy habits and open communication.

“You need to sleep well. Sleeping is very, very important. Exercising is very important. Open communication, developing open skills, positive information, embracing the good side of social media. Learning, connecting with people, and having opportunities to express yourself. These are good ways of promoting your mental well-being,” Adaramodu urged.

He therefore encouraged boys to seek professional help when needed and to utilize mental health resources available to them.

“And you can also find professional help and resources. Psychologists are there. These are people who study human behavior, the way we think, the way we feel.

“The same way you have WhatsApp, the same way you have Facebook, TikTok, and other things like that, for entertainment. To also take care of your mental health related issues, there are apps out there that can help you to become mentally alert and resourceful,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the Founder of GAIYD, Dr. Hillary Akpua, noted the need for a dedicated focus on the boy child and expressed gratitude for the growing advocacy for boys.

“If you have not been paying attention to your boys, please start doing so. Send them for training where they can develop more because the girls you are training today might meet the boy you left untrained tomorrow. I’m sure you won’t want that girl you are busy training today to marry such an untrained boy.

“In order word, for the efforts we put into raising our female children not to be counterproductive eventually, we really need to do better in raising these young men God has blessed us with,” Akpua said.

The highlight of the event was the official launch of One Boy One Skill Project by Olori Temitope Enitan Ogunwusi. The project is aimed at engaging young male adults in different vacations to empower for the future ahead.

Also, there was presentation of prizes to winners of the essay competition.

While the first position received a scholarship worth 150,000 Naira, the second position was awarded 100,000 Naira, and the third position received 50,000 Naira.

Additionally, consolation prizes were provided for runners-up and sponsored gifts for all participants.”

GAIYD, a non-governmental organization dedicated to community and human development, places special emphasis on the growth and empowerment of the male child.

By David Torough, Abuja

Some elders of Ukum in Benue State have thrown their support behind the actions of the youths by affirming to reinforce the call for apology from Sen. Gabriel Torwua Suswam over his alleged derogatory remarks against the people of the area.

According to a statement from the elders signed by Col.

Edwin Jando (Rtd.) and 15 others said, for the sake of clarity, that it is important to remind Sen. Suswam that the protests that occurred during Governor Hyacinth Alia’s visit to Ukum were as a result of cumulative grievances.

The elders maintained that brutal killing of innocent, law-abiding members of the Ukum land, including women and children, over an extended period persisted without any visible concern or intervention from the state government.

They said, it’s so annoying that the governor visited Akpuuna following the incident in which over 34 people were killed, but nothing came of the promises he made.

“When people were killed at Gbagir, the governor’s visit, initially thought to be a condolence visit, turned out to be a rebuff of Senator Udende, demanding an apology from him and the withdrawal of a bill he sponsored at the National Assembly concerning the killings in the state by Fulani herders and the need for an anti-open grazing law.

“At Ayati town, over 100 people were killed by the same Fulani herders/militias, yet the governor did not visit or send a message of condolence. Every family was left to bury their dead.There were several other similar killings in other parts of Ukum that the state government chose to ignore.

“Most of the council wards in Ukum are now displaced, and the government has not deemed it necessary to even create an IDP camp to accommodate the displaced people. The displaced have found refuge in very unpleasant conditions and are undergoing numerous difficulties.

“The killings that prompted the governor’s visit to Ukum on that fateful day, during his ‘mockery visit’, were even more disturbing. The influx of Fulani terrorists was noticed and reported to the appropriate authorities for several days. Nothing was done until they eventually struck, killing over a hundred people after five days of camping and planning at Chito.

“On the day of Governor Alia’s visit, it was disheartening to see that he was not accompanied by prominent Ukum sons or leaders from his government. The highest appointee of Ukum origin in his government, Hon. Paul Biam, the Chief of Staff was conspicuously absent. As elders, we view that as a missing link.

“Our question to ask is: If you were in the position of these youths or any other Ukum person would you have allowed the governor to bring this ‘medicine after death’? We understand and sympathize with the frustration of the youths. Ukum are peaceful and law-abiding people, but as the Tiv saying goes, “Ivo kpa ka wea dzer a i gbem iva nyimau” (even a goat will bite if persistently pestered).

“As elders of Ukum, we are deeply disappointed that Senator Gabriel Torwua Suswam has not spoken out during the numerous attacks, which claimed many lives, only to come afterwards to insult Ukum people over a genuine protest. Such a conduct does not reflect the respect and integrity expected of a leader.

“The blessings that have sustained his political career come from Ukum, his maternal homeland, and the blessings will turn to curses if he fails to publicly apologize within one week of this publication.

“In view of the aforementioned, we stand in full solidarity with Ukum Young Elites and demand that Senator Suswam retract his statements and tender an unreserved apology to the Ukum nation within seven days”, the statement read.

The Taraba House of Assembly has said that it’s approval for the Executive to secure a N350 billion bond from the Capital Market was in line with provisions of the 2025 appropriation law.Mr Jetro Yakubu, Majority Leader of the assembly, made the clarification on Friday while speaking to newsmen in Jalingo.

Yakubu revealed that the request to secure the loan was in tandem with the provisions of the 2025 appropriation bill passed into Law by the assembly. He stressed that Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba had already indicated in the budget proposals his intention to fund part of it through loans from financial institutions.According to him, the request could only become abnormal if it is outside the budgetary provision. Yakubu, who represents Wukari I State Constituency also noted that the assembly approved the loan because the governor had carried the it along right from the preparation of the Appropriation. “The governor is a leader that believes in carrying everybody along. He had already carried the assembly along right from when the appropriation was being prepared.“We don’t give approval for any loan that is not in the appropriation.“The governor is a very strategic thinker. The bond which is at N20 lbillion per year would be funded through Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and not through Federal Accounts Allocation.“The governor is very passionate about stimulating the economy of the state so that the it can be viable to fund the bond,” he said.Daily Asset recalls that Kefas earlier requested an approval from the house of assembly to secure a N350 billion bond from the Capital Market.The legislators had since granted him the approval to borrow the funds. (NAN)