The Elizabethan Humanitarian Life Foundation, H&H, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) focused on the wellbeing of boys and men, has released an emotionally charged anthem titled: “We dey for you” in celebration of father’s day.
“Fathers are not just being celebrated – they are finally speaking, and it’s time we truly listened,” founder of the foundation Mrs Oyinade Samuel-Eluwole said.
Stating that the anthem is aimed at giving fathers a voice, she explained: “We went to the streets, market places, parks, roadside stalls, bus stops, and union halls, and met fathers of all kinds – mechanics, traders, transport workers, professionals, civil servants – and what we saw was deeply symbolic. These men are tired of being strong in silence. From a lotto sub-agent in Ikeja to a civil servant in Agege, the responses were poignant.”
The result is a campaign that humanises the often-invisible struggles of men. Built on the pillars of Mental Health Campaign Awareness, Advocacy, and Programmes (Community Engagement), the initiative aims to shift the narrative about men from stoic providers to emotionally compliant human beings.
“We dey suffer too,” a National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) staff in Ikeja, Mr Olufemi Adedeji said.
“But nobody dey ask us how we dey feel. And now na woman come de fight for men. Na waa. This woman de try. My prayer be say make government come help am as in dey wan help the men. This Foundation dey try.”
Head of Clinical Psychology at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr Tayo Ajirotutu said the campaign is timely and necessary.
According to him: “There’s an epidemic of unspoken male trauma. If society continues to silence men, we shouldn’t be surprised when they implode or withdraw. What H&H is doing is what clinical psychology has long advocated – safe spaces for emotional release. Fathers carry burdens that kill silently – hypertension, depression, isolation.”
Research from Nigeria’s Ministry of Health shows that men are far less likely to seek help for mental or emotional distress.
Depression among men often manifests as anger or silence, leading to tragic consequences – estranged families, addiction, violence, even suicide.
“By the time most men come to the clinic to seek assistance, they are already in crisis,” Dean, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Lagos State University College of Medicine, LASUCOM, Prof Omoniyi Kayode Yemitan noted.
“We need early intervention, and public awareness. Society’s silence is part of the problem. That’s why initiatives like this by H&H Foundation are revolutionary.”
Giving voice to men is one of the most important aspects of this campaign Samuel-Eluwole stressed.
“When my children were born, I promised myself I’d be better than my father,” a lotto agent who hasn’t taken a sick day in 11 years, Mr David Okezie, said.
“But nobody ever asked how I’m coping. This initiative feels like fresh air.” A 52-year-old civil servant, Polycarp Izokun, expressed gratitude.
“Sometimes I want to cry, but who has time? Na man I be. “I work hard, provide, but I go home tired and empty. Just hearing that someone cares – that for me is healing. And hearing others speak; I now know that I am not alone. That’s encouraging.”
“It’s not that men don’t feel,” a trader at Ogba,.Lagos, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, explained. “It’s just that we were never taught how to say what we feel. Growing up we were given the impression that as men we must not display or exhibit our emotions, especially publicly. We must be brave at all times. We must not cry or say how we feel.”
Their voices echo a central theme: the need to humanise fatherhood, not just romanticise it. Fathers want more than praise. They want presence. They want partnership. They want policy.
One of the most emotional moments captured during the Foundation’s outreach was the story of a father who lost his wife during childbirth and has since raised his daughter alone.
“I don’t want pity,” he said, “I want my daughter to see me cry and know it’s okay to be human.” His voice trembled – but it spoke volumes.
Central to this year’s celebration is the debut of “We Dey For You,” an emotional ballad composed to reflect the invisible strength and unspoken love of fathers.
“The song is both a tribute and a therapy,” Samuel-Eluwole explained..
“It gives fathers the validation they often don’t receive, while reminding them – and everyone else – that they are not alone.”
The song dropped on June 15, Father’s Day, across streaming platforms and social media, with a video that includes clips from the Foundation’s Street interviews.
The lyrics combine Pidgin English and Yoruba in a way that is both intimate and universal. It is not just a melody – it is a mirror.
As we honour fathers this year, perhaps we can honour them not just with songs but with systems, Samuel-Eluwole appealed..
” Not just with messages, but with movement. Let us listen to our fathers – not just on Father’s Day, but every day.”
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And perhaps in listening, we’ll finally hear what we’ve been missing: the silent heartbeat of our homes.
Since its inception, H&H Foundation has observed a mixed but growing response. “We’re still in our early days,” Samuel-Eluwole noted. Beyond emotional resonance, the campaign faces systemic barriers.
“Male-centered programmes are underfunded. There’s media reluctance. And many still misinterpret male advocacy as anti-women,” Samuel-Eluwole explained. “But this movement is for everyone – wives, daughters, and communities benefit from stable men.”
The long-term goal is to build a continuous, year-round movement. The foundation is calling on governments, NGOs, faith groups, and donors to fund fatherhood and male mental health initiatives, train male-focused community counsellors, adopt father-inclusive workplace policies and normalize male emotional expression in media and education.
According to Samuel-Eluwole, “When fathers are strengthened, families are stabilised. When men are heard, society is healthier.” For her, the inspiration for the foundation stems from a personal and professional awakening.
Indeed, the Foundation’s work has resonated beyond Lagos. Through social media, street interviews, and community outreach, H&H has created an emerging space for men to reclaim emotional agency. Some of the men interviewed reportedly opened up emotionally for the first time in years.
Yet, despite its impact, the Foundation faces numerous challenges: Cultural silence that discourages male vulnerability. Public misinterpretation that frames male advocacy as anti-women. Media reluctance to spotlight non-sensational stories. Limited funding, since male-centric advocacy remains under-prioritized in the development sector. “We face resistance,” Samuel-Eluwole admits. “But we remain undeterred. Because every man who shares, heals. And every healed man impacts a family.
The Foundation is not asking for applause. It is asking for support – and accountability. For us at the foundation we need partnerships at all levels – governments, communities, and organizations: We need to partner on awareness and educational campaigns. Train fatherhood counsellors across LGAs. Implement family-friendly policies, such as paternal leave and workplace mental health access. Encourage emotional literacy for boys as part of school curriculums.
“Fathers are not accessories to parenting,” she says. “They are pillars. But even pillars crack if no one cares for them.”
And as the voices of everyday fathers now echo across platforms through this campaign, one message is crystal clear: “Let us listen to our fathers – not just on Father’s Day, but every day.”
