Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared May 16 as Lagos Boy Child Day, while throwing his weight behind the review of the Lagos State Child’s Rights Law 2015 to ensure greater protection and equal opportunities for every child.
The governor made the announcement on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ engagement on the review of the Child’s Rights Law and the launch of the Lagos Boy Child Initiative (LBCI), an initiative of the Office of the First Lady, held under the theme: “The Child Development Framework in Lagos State: Addressing the Boy Child Gap.”
Sanwo-Olu said the initiative was aimed at ensuring that while significant progress had been made in promoting the rights of girls, the welfare and protection of boys were not overlooked.
According to him, the state government is committed to bridging the gap in child development by giving equal attention to the needs and rights of both boys and girls.
He described the review of the Child’s Rights Law as timely, pledging the government’s full support for the proposed amendments and the Lagos Boy Child Initiative.
Commending the First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, for championing the cause, the governor said the initiative had grown beyond an advocacy campaign into a movement that deserved institutional backing.
“The First Lady has ensured that the initiative grows into a movement where the progress made in advancing the rights of the girl child does not result in the boy child being inadvertently neglected,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu also called on parents, guardians and community leaders to pay greater attention to the challenges confronting boys, including sexual abuse, substance abuse and other social vices.
“As leaders and parents, we must protect our boys just as we protect our girls. We must address the imbalance and build a society we can all be proud of. The Lagos State Government will support this initiative to whatever extent necessary,” he assured.
In her address, the convener of the Lagos Boy Child Initiative and First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, said the programme was inspired by the conviction that boys deserve intentional guidance, support and opportunities to thrive.
She expressed appreciation to Governor Sanwo-Olu for endorsing the initiative and officially designating May 16 as Lagos Boy Child Day, describing the decision as a strong demonstration of the administration’s commitment to inclusive child development and gender-responsive governance.
“This singular decision goes beyond policy. It sends a powerful message that every child matters and that true gender equality is achieved by ensuring that every child—boy or girl—is given the opportunity to realise his or her God-given potential,” she said.
The First Lady explained that the proposed review of the Child’s Rights Law 2015 would strengthen the state’s legal and institutional framework to address emerging issues such as technology-facilitated violence, online exploitation, mental health, changing family structures, juvenile justice reforms and inclusive child development.
She noted that the amendment would also provide legal backing for the Lagos Boy Child Initiative without diminishing the gains already recorded in promoting the rights of girls.
“Nurturing boys intentionally today is an investment in safer families, stronger communities and a more prosperous Lagos tomorrow. Every child deserves an equal opportunity to thrive,” she said.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu expressed hope that other states and development partners would adopt similar initiatives to promote balanced child development and ensure that no child is left behind.
