New leadership brings experience in education, governance, gender equality, healthcare, peacebuilding, and civic innovation.
ABUJA, NIGERIA | October 2026
Boys Champions has announced a new Board of Directors and Youth Advisory Board, bringing together leaders from Nigeria, Ghana, and the United States to strengthen the organization’s governance and guide its next phase of growth.
Following the transition of its founding board members, these appointments come eight years after Boys Champions began working with boys and young men to challenge harmful gender norms, prevent violence, and promote healthier relationships.
Dr. Nancy Dickson, Assistant Dean for Peabody Global Initiatives at Vanderbilt University, will serve as Board Chair. An education and international development specialist, Dickson brings extensive experience in global partnerships, institutional leadership, and educational programmes.
She will be joined by Oluseun Onigbinde, Co-Founder of BudgIT, whose work has helped make public budgets and government spending more accessible to millions of citizens; and Celestine Okwudili Odo, Head of Programmes and Policy at ActionAid Nigeria, who brings more than 15 years of experience in development, governance, and public policy.
Other members include Dr. Augustine Achu, an international affairs and security cooperation professional; Osei Boateng, Founder of OKB Hope Foundation and a CNN Hero recognized for expanding healthcare access in underserved communities; and Ruth Okafor, a governance and public policy specialist at One Acre Fund.
The Board also includes Barrister Ejike Augustine Okpe, a legal and regulatory compliance specialist; Iya Bawa Pyiki, a lawyer and gender justice advocate; and Remarkable Mary Akpan, Founder of the Mary Remarkable Foundation and an advocate for girls’ education and women’s rights.
The organization has also established a Youth Advisory Board comprising Victory Ashaka, Temiloluwa Bolawole, and Jane Mann-Effiong, whose experience spans youth advocacy, peacebuilding, education, climate action, and creative communication.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer Noel Ifeanyi Alumona said:
“When we started Boys Champions, our focus was on reaching boys who were growing up without enough opportunities to question what society was teaching them about being men. Eight years later, we have reached thousands of young people, but we also recognize that good intentions and strong programs are not enough. We need an institution that can outlive its founder, remain accountable to the communities it serves, and continue doing this work for generations. That is what this Board will help us build.”
At their inaugural joint orientation meeting, members discussed program expansion, stronger impact measurement, fundraising, institutional accountability, and meaningful youth participation in decision-making.
The appointments mark an important step toward building the governance and partnerships needed to sustain Boys Champions’ work across Nigeria.