By Efe Onodjae

A leading non-profit organisation dedicated to the empowerment and reformation of boys and young men, Boys Quarters Africa (BQA) has hosted its annual international boy-child summit 2026.

With the theme as: “Building boys into wholesome men”, the summit had in attendance young boys, students, advocates, educators, and thought leaders to address the urgent need to redefine masculinity and empower boys to transition purposefully into the exceptional manhood phase.

The MC, Timi Agbaje, delivered an exceptional and enthralling audience engagement which kept the students energised throughout the event.

There were also performances from Elijah Jolleyking, Toby Abiodun, and Dami Funso.

Schools in attendance include: Baptist Junior High School, Obanikoro, Shomolu Senior High School, Mende Senior High School, Immaculate Heart Comprehensive, Ojota Senior High School, Herbert Macaulay Junior Grammar School, Jibowu Jnr High School, Aje Comprehensive High School

Others are: Mobolaji Bank Anthony Jnr, Mainland Senior High School, Lagos City Senior College, Government Senior College Surulere, Eric Moore High School, Campus of Champions, Scholars College.

University students from Lagos State University, University of Lagos, YabaTech, Lagos State University of Education, Ijanikin were also in attendance.

The speakers at the summit were: Thought leader and Founder, All Arbitrate, Kayode Adeniji; Co-Founder, Dukiya Investment, Lukman Shobowale; Founder/CEO GoHoldings Olubori Paul; others.

In their separate presentations and electrifying speeches, the speakers outlined strategies for personal development and social impact for the boy-child. They also spotlighted the growing neglect of the boy-child in social development conversations.

Founder and Executive Director of Boys Quarters Africa, Solomon Ayodele said: “We are gathered here at the largest boy child event and I’ve done this for close to a decade. Nigeria’s masculinity has been almost entirely collapsed into one function. As men, we try to earn everything, including support.

“About 45% of Nigerian children grow up without a consistently present father figure. Boys are learning to perform, and not learning to become. A nation where boys are emotionally literate, they will lead the homes right.

“When we talk about the boy-child conversation, a lot of people think we want to raise the anti-feminism movement, or we are trying to create a system where we are fighting girls, but that’s not true.

“A lot of this conversation sit around engaging young men, social problems, and economic problems. If we spend time paying attention to boys, it will change the dynamics of the issue.

“We’ve done this event for the past six years, and it is an important conversation that we need to keep having for us and the continent. We’ve got a major masculinity challenge across the continent, not because there are bad men, but because we are not investing enough in boys.

“For this event, we’ve about a thousand of boys, we’ve about 300 from universities – Lagos State University, Yaba Tech. We are actually not focusing on boys alone. We also pay attention to boys in correctional centres, not just in schools alone.

“We cover every area of boy-child like a circle. We have a platform called Myguy, and we are trying to get older men to mentor young boys. It is not rocket science. The good men won’t fall from the sky.

“For policymakers, when it comes to violence against people, we need states across the country to sign the bill. As we begin to create different structures at the government level, there’s a ministry for women and social welfare, can we create one for men and boys? They are a major fabric of society.

“We need the government to support our programme. We need the Ministry of Education to rise up and throw their weight in this conversation.”

Advising the students, he said: “Learn how to name how you feel; choose your mirrors carefully; build real brotherhood; divorce your worth from your wallet; speak up and stay.

He announced a new digital platform for men tagged: MyGuy.me.

Solomon explained that the digital community is purpose-built, trauma-informed, and culturally grounded in the African masculine experience.

He concluded that: “The state of the boy child is critical. But it is not hopeless. And it starts with the one thing we have never given him enough of: Our full, undivided, fearless attention.”

In his remarks, one of the speakers, Co-Founder, Dukiya Investment, Lukman Shobowale, commended the organisation for the efforts and coordination of the annual summit.

He said: “First of all, I need to commend the organisers for putting up a conversation like this, especially at a point where it has only been focused on girl-child.

“Building boys into wholesome men is an incredible conversation that we should keep on having. I’m an orphan, and I lost my parents when I was young.

“Excuses are good reasons for bad results. Take your destiny into your own hands because decisions decide destiny. You need to find God first because

“Behind everything you do, your association determines the things that you’ll become. The government should partner with organisations, ensure that there are opportunities for talents and skills acquisition. They need to provide an enabling environment for boys to thrive.”

Another speaker, Kayode Adeniji, charged the boys to find purpose, stressing that a man doesn’t wait to be named, he builds who he is.

He said, “You’re an identity giver, so you must find purpose for yourself. The reason why people don’t have identity is because men have abandoned their function. It is what you build that the world is going to see. You’re going to build something by brutal timing.”

A land gift situated in Abeokuta was awarded to Ms. Akindele Moyinoluwa for being the most dedicated volunteer as a token of appreciation for her commitment and service.