Ukorebi Esien
CALABAR — The Cross River State Planning Commission on Wednesday joined the global community to commemorate the 2025 International Men’s Day with a renewed pledge to prioritize men’s issues in government budgeting, programming, and policy implementation.
This was revealed in a statement by Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Bong Duke, stating that the Cross River State Government would no longer ignore the unique social, economic, and health challenges faced by men across communities in Cross River State.
He noted that, despite assumptions that men are always positioned at the forefront of governance, evidence shows that many critical concerns affecting men have received little or no policy attention over the years. These include rising mental health struggles, poor health-seeking behaviour, prostate-related illnesses, substance abuse, economic pressures, unemployment among young men, and cases of male-targeted violence that often go unreported.
_“Men’s lives matter just as much as every other demographic group in our state. Balanced development requires that we stop assuming men are doing fine simply because they appear strong. Going forward, the Planning Commission will ensure that men’s issues are reflected in the State’s development plans, budget frameworks, and programme implementation strategies,”_he said.
He further announced that the Commission will direct all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to incorporate men-specific indicators into their Medium-Term Sector Strategies (MTSS) and annual work plans. This, he explained, will help the state respond more effectively to issues such as suicide prevention, mental health support, workplace safety, positive masculinity, and strengthening fatherhood and family stability.
The Vice Chairman stressed that the new commitment does not diminish the government’s ongoing focus on women, children, and vulnerable groups but instead promotes a holistic gender-responsive development framework.
_“A society is stronger when every group is supported. When men are healthy, emotionally stable, and economically empowered, families thrive, communities are safer, and development outcomes are better for all,”_ he added.
International Men’s Day, celebrated annually on November 19, focuses on six pillars, including improving men’s health, promoting positive male role models, strengthening family relations, and reducing negative gender stereotypes.
The Planning Commission said it will continue to champion inclusive planning as part of its mandate to drive sustainable development in Cross River State
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