A non-governmental organisation (NGO) operating under the aegis of Boys Quarter Africa has raised concerns over the alarming suicide rates among men, saying it is currently four times higher than those among women.
With over 53 per cent of young men unemployed or underemployed, the organisation emphasises the urgent need to address these challenges.
Speaking at the relaunch and release of the 5-year report in Lagos, Solomon Ayodele, Founder of Boys Quarter Africa, said the NGO has impacted over 500,000 boys across five African countries, providing them with mental health support, education, mentorship, and leadership training.
This initiative aims to tackle the societal neglect and stereotypes surrounding boys and men, which have led to a crisis in their development and well-being.
Underscoring the critical issues facing boys and men, he noted that “Over the years, there have been a lot of assumptions about men, about boys, which are huge assumptions that cannot be imagined.”
Ayodele highlighted the societal pressures that discourage boys and men from expressing vulnerability, leading to untreated mental health issues and high suicide rates.
“The boy-child and men are often discouraged from expressing vulnerability, leading to untreated mental health issues and high suicide rates,” he said.
He alluded to the critical but often overlooked challenges faced by boys and young men in Africa, which have led to higher school dropout rates, poor mental health, gender-based violence, and economic disempowerment.
Ayodele advocated for investments in humanity, mainly through the family unit, emphasising that technology alone is not the solution to transforming Africa.
The keynote speaker, Gbemiga Shoname, in his address titled “The Man Crisis: Neglecting Boys Threatens Families and Societies,” highlighted alarming statistics. “Globally, men are more likely to die by suicide than women. In South Africa, for example, the male suicide rate is five times more than that of females,” he stated.
