Enugu, Nigeria: At just ten years old, Noel Alumona’s life changed forever when he woke up to the harrowing screams of his pregnant mother. As he ran to help her, he found himself helpless against the gang of three armed robbers who brutally took turns sexually assaulting his mother, seemingly entertained by her agonising cries for help.
In the aftermath of the horrific assault, Alumona’s mother passed away during childbirth. The abuse had resulted in life-threatening complications for the expectant mother, ultimately leading to the loss of both her and the baby she carried.
As Alumona grew older, he discovered that a majority of his male peers held a concerning belief—that men’s physical superiority entitled them to exert control over women. “Most men may not use violence or condone violence but the simple fact is that men are overwhelmingly the perpetrators of violence against women,” Alumona said. This dangerous perspective frequently resulted in various forms of abuse, including domestic and sexual violence, as well as aggressive dominance.
Though Alumona said that he never fully recovered from the traumatic loss of his mother, he channelled his grief into a powerful driving force to combat Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), using his personal tragedy as motivation to fight for change. “Since men are major perpetrators and influencers of other men, it makes working with boys and men necessary for primary prevention [of SGBV],” Alumona told The SolutionsPaper.
Inspired by his encounter with Barack Obama, the former president of the United States in 2018, Alumona put his long-standing commitment to ending SGBV into the establishment of Boys Champion—an initiative aimed at fostering change and promoting gender equality.
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Redefining Masculinity
Since its inception in December 2018, Boys Champions has successfully reached and impacted over 10,000 young boys—providing a platform for them to share their personal experiences and access necessary psychological support. Alumona emphasised that, in their mission to promote healthy masculinity and foster a more equitable society, Boys Champions actively encourages collaborative efforts within the communities they serve.
With a core team of 15 members and the support of over 450 volunteers, the organisation coordinates various programs and outreach initiatives. Some notable events have taken place at public and private schools including St. Theresa’s College in Nsukka, Enugu; Good Shepherd Anglican Seminary, Enugu; St. Patrick Secondary School, Enugu; and the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), offering a wide array of mentorship opportunities for the young boys involved.
“Because schools are a place that has young minds who will be adults in important positions tomorrow. Hence, if these young minds get the right orientation, it is assured that in the nearest future our goal will be achieved,” Alumona noted.
The organisation also partners with a random selection of schools, extending invitations to selected students to join roundtable mentorship programs. During these programs, participating boys are divided into smaller groups and paired with chosen mentors for focused guidance and support. “We encourage boys and men to champion, inspire inclusion, acknowledge women’s accomplishments and confront discrimination. Cultivating an equitable society,” Alumona explained.
For every program they organise, the team generates awareness through leveraging on social media to reach their target audience effectively. While social media plays a significant role in their campaigns, they occasionally supplement it with physical rallies to enhance visibility.
While the initiative’s primary focus revolves around mentorship programs, it occasionally diversifies its efforts by providing vocational training opportunities that equip boys and young men with valuable skills. As Alumona mentioned, “we establish goals for individuals who seek to make positive changes in their lives, allowing them to present their ideas and give them funding to support their aspirations.”
Progresses remains difficult
According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, approximately one in three women globally have experienced one or more forms of physical and/or sexual abuse from men including their intimate partners. Nigeria recorded at least 27,698 cases of SGBV between 2020 and 2023.
Gender-based violence, often targeted at women, comes in various horrific forms, including domestic abuse, verbal degradation, physical abuse, sexual assault and rape, forced marriages, and even abhorrent acts like female genital mutilation, acid baths, and homicide. These acts of violence perpetuate the subjugation of women and girls and remain a serious human rights issue in Nigeria.
Emitoma Oluwatobiloba, a gender advocate, highlighted the crucial first step in combating gender-based violence: understanding the multifaceted forms of violence women face. She underscored the importance of empathetic listening to the stories of victims as a means to grasp the psychological trauma often endured beyond the physical. Oluwatobiloba further emphasised the need for collaboration with leaders and authorities, citing their potential to challenge harmful cultural norms that foster gender-based violence.
The overarching aim of Alumona’s initiative is to foster an inclusive and equitable society for Africans and the global community but currently his primary focus is on Nigeria as his initiative operates in Enugu, Ebonyi, and Imo states in the southeast. According to the National Institute of Health, about 90 percent of SGBV victims were women in Enugu, and in Ebonyi state, at least 55 percent of women reported experiencing SGBV since turning 15 years, with 6 percent experiencing SGBV “often.” In Imo state, the National Human Rights Commission received a staggering 106,800 complaints pertaining to rights violations.
Despite Alumona’s ambition to extend his reach and deepen his impact, progress remains elusive due to the resistance of certain cultural leaders who uphold misogynistic beliefs. These leaders have been reluctant to embrace reforms that would challenge established cultural norms, even if empirical evidence demonstrates their contribution to the propagation of SGBV.
“Some of the leaders in some communities do not want to change history and it takes consistent education and persuasion to make them understand. Campaigns like the fight against female genital mutilation were not easily accepted by some of the communities we visited,” he said.
“The only way to directly improve this is through continuous advocacy. We meet the lawmakers and present proposals which will make them understand the need to create equity and stop all forms of discrimination against women.”
Alumona’s long-term strategy is also to cultivate a new generation of leaders with a commitment to challenging harmful societal attitudes and advancing gender equity. By selecting young men who demonstrate an aptitude for leadership and providing them with comprehensive training, Alumona aims to shape the future of policy making in Nigeria.
While the potential future actions of individuals cannot be predicted with certainty, Alumona believes that through careful selection and training, his initiative can identify and empower young men who are committed to transforming society for the better.
Credits
Editor: Zubaida Baba Ibrahim
Chidera Eze is a freelance journalist with bias for solutions journalism, a blockchain content writer and a public relations student.