The Stellar Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, has announced the Boycode Conference for 2025, aimed at empowering the next generation of male leaders.
The Conference is a space where boys can come together to redefine leadership, embrace vulnerability, and create a ripple effect of transformation that will touch families, communities, and nations.
The event, themed ‘Raising Giants: Empowering the Next Generation of Male Leaders,’ will bring together about 5,000 boys from across the world in May next year, for an immersive experience. This experience is designed to transform lives and build legacies through training in the tech space, business acumen and creativity, disruptive content creation, and harnessing the power of media and storytelling to drive change.
Speaking at the press conference, the founder of The Stellar Initiative, Precious Eniayekan, reflected on an urgent truth, saying: “the future of our communities, our nations, and our shared humanity depends on how we empower the next generation of boys to become men of purpose, empathy, and vision.
“So this is not just a conference; it is a global 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 reached hundreds of boys, providing them with mentorship, life skills, and opportunities they might never have had. “We’ve seen boys who overcame adversity, found their voice, and are now on a path to becoming global champions standing tall with hope and purpose,” she 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, she said.
Prominent Nigerian comedian Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba, expressed his excitement and support for the project.
“There are quite a lot of things that boys across the world are lacking, and it’s 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 said.
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 and also not to be girls, which is not right.”
Ali Baba emphasised that the conference would address many 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, with his wife and media entrepreneur Toyosi Etim-Effiong, also applauded 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 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.”
