Nigeria’s Boys Champions Foundation has won the 2026 .ORG Impact Award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, earning $10,000 for its work engaging more than 26,000 boys and young men in promoting gender equality.
The Boys Champions Foundation, a Nigerian non-governmental organisation, has won the 2026 .ORG Impact Award in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion category, receiving a $10,000 cash prize for its work promoting gender equality and preventing gender-based violence.
The foundation’s founder, Noel Alumona, disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Enugu on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
The .ORG Impact Awards, organised annually by the Public Interest Registry (PIR), which operates the .ORG domain, held its 2026 edition on October 6 in Washington, D.C., United States.
The awards featured seven categories, with the Boys Champions Foundation emerging as the winner in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion category.
According to the organisers, the category recognises individuals and organisations working to create a more inclusive and equitable world by removing barriers, amplifying underrepresented voices and expanding opportunities.
Alumona attributed the foundation’s recognition to its sustained efforts to engage boys and young men in challenging harmful gender norms and promoting respect for women and girls.
He said the organisation had reached more than 26,000 boys and young men in Nigeria since its establishment in 2018.
The foundation focuses on nurturing boys who respect girls, embrace equality and actively contribute to preventing violence against women and girls.
Alumona said the $10,000 prize would support the expansion of the foundation’s programmes across Nigeria.
“The gains recorded by this foundation have continued to advance inclusion globally, empower more women economically and help boys and men question their existing beliefs about masculinity,” he said.
He added that the foundation was selected from more than 4,200 entries submitted by organisations across 145 countries.
Alumona disclosed that the foundation was in discussions with the Federal Ministry of Education on integrating its programmes into Nigeria’s school curriculum.
He said the organisation hoped to establish Boys Champions clubs or programmes in schools to promote healthier relationships, gender equality and responsible behaviour among young people.
According to him, the initiative is designed to improve the lives of both men and women in Nigeria and across Africa by addressing harmful expressions of masculinity.
“Over the years, Boys Champions has worked to teach boys how to grow into responsible men,” he said. The founder maintained that boys and men had important roles to play in preventing gender-based violence and building safer communities.
He also stressed that violence against women and girls remained a global concern requiring sustained action from individuals, institutions and governments.
The foundation’s recognition comes as it seeks to expand its school and community-based programmes, using mentorship, sports and fellowships to encourage boys and young men to embrace equality, respect and non-violence.
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