NNPP founder, Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, has called for greater appreciation and emotional support for fathers, highlighting the unseen struggles, sacrifices and responsibilities many men endure to provide for their families.
Dr. Boniface Aniebonam, founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has called for greater recognition of the sacrifices made by fathers, describing fatherhood as a demanding responsibility often accompanied by unseen struggles and emotional burdens.
Aniebonam, who is also the founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), made the remarks in a statement issued on Monday titled “The Burden of Being a Responsible Father.”
The statement was released in reflection on Father’s Day, celebrated globally on June 21, 2026.
According to Aniebonam, many fathers endure difficult experiences in their daily efforts to provide for their families, often concealing their challenges to shield their loved ones from worry and distress.
“When a father goes out daily in search of bread for his household, he sustains many mental injuries he does not discuss with his family,” he said.
He noted that many men face workplace pressures, humiliation, financial difficulties and personal struggles without sharing the full extent of their experiences with their spouses and children.
“His wife and children may not be able to stand the pains he goes through if he shares it with them. The insults from his boss, the embarrassment from his customers, the harassment from his superiors, yet he can’t quit,” Aniebonam stated.
The NNPP founder further observed that fathers are often confronted with mounting expectations and responsibilities at home, while receiving little recognition for their efforts.
According to him, many men make significant personal sacrifices to ensure their families remain stable and provided for, often carrying emotional and financial burdens in silence.
“Most fathers are rarely appreciated for their struggles and hard work just to keep the family together,” he said.
Aniebonam likened fathers to unsung heroes whose contributions are frequently overlooked despite their central role in family welfare and development.
He argued that while fathers may not experience childbirth or physical labour pains, they endure emotional and psychological pressures associated with meeting family needs and responsibilities.
“A good father may not know how labour pain feels but his pains are not physical. Tears may not be in his eyes but he bleeds from inside when he has no means to put food on the table for his household,” he added.
The NAGAFF founder stressed the importance of appreciating fathers and providing them with emotional support, noting that such encouragement would help them function more effectively within their families and society.
As he extended Father’s Day greetings to fathers in Nigeria and around the world, Aniebonam urged families to acknowledge the value of fathers’ contributions and offer them the understanding, support and appreciation they deserve.
He maintained that stronger family support systems would not only improve the well-being of fathers but also contribute to healthier and more stable homes.
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