TSI: Precious Eniayekan, Ali Baba, others set to change lives of 5,000 boys

The Stellar Initiative(TSI), a visionary non-governmental organisation, has announced the forthcoming Boycode Conference 2025 which is an unprecedented gathering aimed at empowering young boys to become true leaders.

This momentous event is designed to provide a transformative experience for approximately 5,000 boys from across Nigeria, converging in May next year.

The conference, themed “Raising Giants: Empowering the Next Generation of Male Leaders,” promises to be a groundbreaking experience, replete with immersive training sessions in the tech space, business acumen and creativity, disruptive content creation, and harnessing the power of media and storytelling to drive positive change.

This comprehensive approach is designed to equip the next generation of male leaders with the requisite skills, knowledge, and vision to make a profound impact in their respective communities and the world at large.

Speaking at a press conference, the founder of The Stellar Initiative(TSI), Precious Eniayekan, underscored the imperative need to empower the next generation of boys to become men of purpose, empathy, and vision.

“The future of our communities, our nations, and our shared humanity depends on how we empower the next generation of boys to become men who embody these qualities,” she emphasized. “This conference is not merely an event; it is a clarion call to action, a blueprint for the future, a convergence of ideas, and a celebration of the resilience and brilliance within our young men.”

Since its inception, The Stellar Initiative has made a profound impact, reaching hundreds of boys and providing them with mentorship, life skills, and opportunities they might never have had. “We have witnessed boys who overcame adversity, found their voice, and are now on a path to becoming global champions, standing tall with hope and purpose,” Eniayekan added. “Despite significant progress, the work is far from done. For every boy reached, countless others are still waiting for the same chance to discover their potential. This is why the Boycode Conference 2025 is being launched, marking the next chapter in this vital journey.”

Prominent Nigerian comedian Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba, expressed his unbridled enthusiasm and support for the project. “There are numerous things that boys across the world are lacking, and it is crucial to make them aware of these things so they can live purposeful lives, make an impact, and advance as a people as they start to raise their families,” he stated.

Ali Baba, born after seven girls, shared his personal experience to highlight the cultural biases and immense pressures on boys to uphold certain roles. “Raising a boy to a man is a major task. One of our society’s failures has been training our boys not to respect girls, which is not right.”

Ali Baba emphasized that the conference would address a plethora of issues, focusing on education, environment, peer pressure, innovation, media information, goals, dreams, physical attributes, empowerment, mentorship, guidance, counselling, and government policies. “This is a project I am proud to support, and I am committed to its success,” he concluded.

Nigerian Actor Daniel Etim Effiong, accompanied by his wife and media entrepreneur Toyosi Etim-Effiong, also lauded the initiative. They stressed that the attention given to girls should also be extended to boys. “There is no way we can prepare for women without taking care of boys who will become men in the future,” they stated.

One of the beneficiaries from the previous mentorship programme, Seyi Ogundipe, shared his transformative experience. “I was at the lowest point of my life when I joined. I had applied for many things, but none ever materialised except the Boycode Initiative. Walking in there, the laptop was a major incentive for me to participate, as I had no idea what I was going to do.” “But then you realise that getting a laptop isn’t the main thing; it’s just a bonus. If you consider everything you gain along the way, such as fantastic mentorship sessions, access to skilled mentors, and being part of a family of young, inspiring boys, you understand that the laptop is just an added benefit. My mindset shifted from, I’m here to get a laptop to I’m gaining all these valuable experiences, plus a laptop.”