The 2025 edition of the Shine Summit organised by Ghanaian online journalist and social impact advocate Kobby Kyei has sparked national conversation about the need to extend equal emotional and psychological support to the boy child.
Held at the Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School (PRESEC), Legon, the summit brought together students, media personalities and change advocates to discuss the challenges boys face in a society that often expects them to be strong and suppress their emotions.
Speaking to Joy News, Kobby Kyei explained that the Shine Summit forms part of a global campaign aimed at addressing the educational, psychological and social encounters of boys in contemporary society.
He said the movement is not against girl-child advocacy but seeks to encourage young men and boys to express themselves openly.
“The Shine Summit is not against the girl-child empowerment initiatives we have across the country. We are simply saying that while we empower the girl child, let’s not ignore the boy child. Boys also need emotional guidance and spaces to express themselves freely,” he said.
He noted that society’s long-held perception that men should not show emotion has created deep emotional gaps in many young men.
“We have raised a generation of heartless men because we ignored the boy child. When boys are going through crises, we tell them ‘boys don’t cry’. But many of them have been molested or emotionally broken and have no one to talk to. That has to change,” he added.
Kyei referenced a recent viral video showing a military officer assaulting a young man and a woman at a pharmacy, arguing that such behaviour reflects the outcome of years of emotional neglect.
“That’s exactly why this campaign matters. If we raise boys without empathy, they grow into men who repeat the same cycle of violence and insensitivity,” he highlighted.
One of the inspiring moments at the summit came from Gabriel Bortey Naa, a final-year student of Ghanata Senior High School who lives with cerebral palsy.
Supported by Kobby Kyei through the Boys Lives Matter initiative, Gabriel shared how the media personality’s intervention had transformed his life.
“I met Mr. Kobby through a journalist, Vicentia. I needed a wheelchair and he donated one to me. Later, through a documentary he produced, people donated more than GH¢10,000 to help my mother start a business and take care of me. May God bless him for what he is doing for people with disabilities,” he appreciated.
Renowned broadcaster and tourism ambassador Abeiku Santana also delivered an address centered on self-discovery and mentorship.
“When the purpose of something is not known, abuse is inevitable. Many young boys pursue paths prescribed by their parents or peers without asking if that’s truly their passion. Find mentors and learn from those who have walked the path before them, saying mentorship helps to guide ambition and prevent failure,” he explained.
Other speakers included Derrick Abayitey, host of the Konnected Minds Podcast, and actress and entrepreneur Sonia Ibrahim, who both urged the boys to embrace self-expression and personal development without shame.
Some students from PRESEC Legon who attended the summit said the event had encouraged them to open up about issues they often kept to themselves.
“Before, we didn’t really talk about our emotions. Now I understand that it’s okay to speak out and seek help,” one student shared.
Kobby Kyei concluded by urging parents and educators to support both boys and girls equally, saying society must strike a balance.
“Gender equality is not about choosing one side. It’s about building emotionally stable boys and girls who will grow into responsible men and women,” he emphasised.