Boys Champions, a Nigerian non-profit organisation, has won the 2026 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award at the 2026 Org Impact Awards in Washington, DC.

Founded in 2018 by Nigerian gender-based violence prevention advocate Noel Ifeanyi Alumona, Boys Champions works to curb gender-based violence by nurturing a generation of boys who respect girls, value equality, and actively defend the rights of women.

The Org Impact Awards are organised annually by the Public Interest Registry (PIR) and feature seven categories. Boys Champions was named the 2026 winner in the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion category.

According to the organisers, the award “recognizes an organization or individual fostering a more inclusive and equitable world by breaking down barriers, amplifying underrepresented voices, and driving meaningful change that creates opportunities for all.”

The award comes with a $10,000 cash prize to help the organisation expand its work in Nigeria.

Boys Champions described the award as a testament to its work in Nigeria to help boys express their masculinity in healthier, more positive ways.

“This year’s awards received submissions from more than 4,200 organizations across 145 countries, making this recognition an important milestone for our organization and the communities at the heart of our work,” the NGO says.

In a statement made available to Guardian, the CEO and President of Boys Champions, Noel Ifeanyi Alumona said the award strengthens the organisation’s belief that the work it is doing matters.

“When we started Boys Champions in 2018, we believed that if we wanted to build a safer and more equal society, we could not afford to leave boys and men out of the conversation. Eight years later, seeing that belief and the work we have built around it recognized on a global stage is deeply meaningful.
To emerge as a winner among more than 4,200 organizations from 145 countries tells us that the work we are doing in Nigeria matters far beyond our immediate communities,” he said.

Over the years, Boys Champion has worked to teach boys how to grow into responsible men. The organisation believes the fight against gender-based violence should be championed by men.

“The version of masculinity promoted by the world is harmful – not just to society as a whole but also to men themselves, especially young men. Many young men in Nigeria are faring poorly in school and often pushing back against gains in women’s rights. Our work is investing in boys and men so they can be caring, connected boys and men who embrace and live equality and non-violence. Our detailed programs help young, high-risk boys find their purpose, navigate their journey to manhood, and gain a better understanding of the responsibilities they owe to their families and communities,” the organisation says on its website.