First Gentleman Epaphras Ndaitwah wants more attention to be given to the development of the boy child, noting that many boys are growing up without proper guidance and support.

Speaking during a men's engagement programme, Ndaitwah said he had made it a priority to engage with boys across the country to understand the challenges they faced.

He explained that while more efforts have been made to empower and support the girl child, there is now a need for society to also address the struggles affecting boys.

According to him, many men are found in prisons, while a number of boys drop out of universities and schools. 

He stressed that these trends show that the priorities of the boy child are often misplaced and require urgent attention.

Ndaitwah says it is important for society to identify the root causes behind these challenges.

"We must be aggressive enough to address this situation. It will be unfortunate as we go; if this doesn't change, we will have many of our girls who will be idle without marriage. Because they are studying, they become doctors and engineers. And now you are coming from a town called Cucashop, and you want to propose to this doctor?"

Concerns were raised about how to raise a child without comparison, how to incorporate discipline in a male child, and the need for after-school programmes for boys at every school.

He added that telling boys to "be a man" without teaching them what it means to be a responsible man can be harmful, especially when the only examples some boys grow up seeing are men who abuse alcohol or engage in violence.

The First Gentleman emphasised that boys also need proper home training, just like girls are taught values and responsibilities at a young age.

"There are so many things we have to do as a society, particularly as parents. We must be able to identify their root causes. What are the root causes that lead our youngsters, particularly boys, to behave in the way they currently do? Identifying these root causes is crucial; otherwise, we may only address the symptoms. By treating the symptoms, the problem will not go away. The problem will only go away once it is treated."

Ndaitwah said that although he has made engaging the boy child a priority, he cannot address the issue alone.

He therefore called on parents, communities and institutions to work together to guide boys and help them grow into responsible men.