Get Guardian on GoogleSexual abuse, the psychological consequences of financial pressure, family and cultural expectations, mental health, emotional suppression, and the effects of unresolved trauma on relationships among boys and men will shape discussions at the boys to MEN Foundation’s 2026 International Men’s Day Conference.
The conference, scheduled for November 19, 2026, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, will be held under the theme, “Two Sides of the Same Human Coin — #MalesMatterToo,” and is anchored on the global International Men’s Day theme, “The Future is Everyone.”
The foundation’s conference will combine theatrical storytelling, expert conversations and public engagement to examine the experiences, expectations and wellbeing of men and boys in Nigerian society.
The event seeks to draw attention to the often-unspoken pressures confronting men and boys, including expectations around financial provision, strength, achievement, responsibility and emotional restraint, while encouraging a more inclusive conversation about gender, family relationships and societal wellbeing.
The conference will bring together participants from corporate organisations, civil society, academia, the media and the wider public for discussions on male wellbeing, parenting, gender relations, emotional health and the social responsibilities involved in raising the next generation of men.
Through the conference and its wider programmes, the foundation seeks to promote healthier pathways from boyhood to manhood by encouraging open conversations, responsible role modelling, emotional awareness and supportive environments in which boys and men can thrive.
At the heart of the conference will be A Man’s World, an original theatrical production featuring monologues adapted in part from About Men: Random Poems, Monologues and Reflections, a book by the foundation’s Founder and Executive Vice Chairman, Mrs Ifeoma Idigbe.
Through dramatic interpretations of lived experiences, the production will explore issues that are frequently overlooked or difficult to discuss publicly, including the sexual abuse of men and boys, the psychological consequences of financial pressure, family and cultural expectations, mental health, emotional suppression and the effects of unresolved trauma on relationships.
The event will have panel sessions, with discussions that explore the social expectations that shape male identity, the pressure on men to provide and remain emotionally resilient, and the consequences of a culture in which vulnerability is often mistaken for weakness.
The sessions will also consider how healthier models of masculinity can contribute to stronger relationships, responsible fatherhood and more supportive communities.
Discussions at the panel sessions will also examine the ideas and online communities shaping the attitudes of young men, particularly how social media and digital personalities increasingly influence boys understanding for masculinity, authority, relationships and success.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Idigbe said the foundation was creating a platform for society to engage more deliberately with the experiences of men and boys, particularly those that are often hidden behind social expectations.
“We cannot build healthy families and communities by listening to only one side of the human experience. This is not a competition between men and women, neither is it an attempt to diminish the important work being done to advance women. It is an invitation to recognise that men also experience pain, pressure, vulnerability and circumstances that deserve attention,” she stated.
She explained that the foundation chose theatre because people need to see and feel a story before they can fully appreciate what it means.
Idigbe said through the monologues, the foundation wants audiences to encounter experiences that many men may never have found the words or courage to share.
“We want people to leave asking themselves what they can do as parents, partners, employers, friends and members of society to help boys and men live healthier, more responsible and emotionally secure lives,” Idigbe added.
