Great Achievers Initiative for Youth and Community Development (GAIYD), in collaboration with the American Management University (AMU), USA, has honoured several Nigerians for their outstanding contributions to the development and protection of the boy child.
The honours were conferred at the 2025 Doctorate Award ceremony held in Abuja over the weekend.
Speaking at the event, the President of GAIYD, Dr. Hillary Akpua, said the organisation was founded to correct the longstanding neglect of the boy child in public discourse and social intervention.
According to him, “GAIYD is an NGO that focuses on the boy child. Oftentimes, people have neglected the boy child and focus more on the girl child, especially in our society. A lot of people talk about the girl child, but without a good boy child, there wouldn’t be a better girl child.”
Akpua said the initiative emphasises both moral and educational development, adding that societal dysfunctions can be traced to poor upbringing.
“If you see a woman, the next thing is not to molest. It’s because we don’t have a good societal upbringing, that’s why we’re having a lot of leadership challenges. That’s why we’re having a lot of divorces in the family,” Akpua said.
He stressed that the awards were given strictly on merit. “The people that obtained the award today have been scrutinized, before they were nominated, it’s a thing of joy that the American Management University is using our platform to also recognize individuals.”
In his welcome address, GAIYD Grand Patron, Hon. Chamber Okorie, praised the organisation for championing a cause often ignored.
He said: “I want to appreciate the vision of this great organization that has transcended the length and breadth of Nigeria to advocate for the rights of the boy child that has been so vicious over time, neglected and ignored. Dr. Hillary Akpua has very bravely worked very hard to draw attention to the challenges, the opportunities of the boy child.”
Okorie congratulated the awardees, describing them as models of service.
“Those of us that have been selected today for this award are those who have been doing and carrying out the activities in a way that is worthy of emulation, you have become characters that people look forward to,” Okorie noted.
He urged them to continue contributing to society, adding, “By this conferment, we want to continue to celebrate you and invite you to continue to be part of the journey to make the boy child more responsible for a more responsible society.”
One of the recipients, MD/CEO of Guidotti Group, Dr. Richy Onolememen, described the award as a motivation to serve more.
“I feel very happy, it’s a call of commitment to do more, to give back more to the society, to inspire more, and to serve more with integrity,” Onolememen stated.
Another honouree, the Chief Medical Director of Dr. Hassan’s Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Dr. Shabihul Hassan, praised the focus on the boy child.
“It’s a wonderful event focusing on the boy child which is not very common. It’s equally important to focus on the boy child because the boy and the girl grow up to be the man and the woman that take care of society.”
Also speaking, another awardee, Dr. Lady Nwabuogo Chambers Okorie said her passion for the boy child was shaped by the experiences many boys face.
“Most of the involved children will tell you that they have been molested in one way or the other, so that makes me feel I would want to identify with this initiative to protect the male child.”
She added that the recognition encouraged her to continue humanitarian service. “This honor for me is a part of leadership and community development. I feel excited and I give all glory to God.”
The Board Chairman, Planning Committee for 2025 Great Achievers Summit and Awards of Excellence, Dr. Patrick Adilo, urged the honourees to deepen their service to society.
“I wish them good luck and urge them to make themselves more available for service to humanity,” Adilo said.
He also encouraged young people to embrace learning and innovation.
“For those of them that say education is a scam, I want to tell them that education is not a scam,” he stated.
Other awardees at the ceremony included the Head of the Association of Urhobo Mayoral Family Crown (AUMFC), His Excellency Eshanekpe Israel; former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana; and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, among others.
