‘’ Effective fatherhood is about presence, not financial provision alone. If boys don’t have grounding, they could become men who break, rather than build, societies. Real change is when a boy who entered our programme confused and invisible becomes a man who is both competent and compassionate and then builds others’’

Precious Eniayekan is Founder and CEO of The Stellar Initiative and a social entrepreneur. Driven by a mission to shape a world where young people are empowered, Precious’ work spans youth development, social impact, education, marketing communications and leadership, focused on creating sustainable, transformative programmes, shaping the next generation of global disruptors and scaling initiatives that bridge the gap between talent and opportunity. Her flagship initiative, Boycode Africa equips young African men with globally competitive skills through tech, innovation and leadership.  Precious is the force behind Rivil Consult, a marketing communications agency and RevneyCo, a fashion and image consulting outfit. Precious was recognized as a Maltina’s Top Educator for 2024 in Nigeria.

In a world where girls’ education is prioritized, what pulled you to boys’ education considering your own challenges during school and also that all your siblings are girls?

I often say I did not choose the boychild, the boychild chose me. Growing up with only sisters, I saw firsthand how the world rallied around girls, while boys were left to figure things out on their own. Even in school, I noticed how a girl struggling would attract support, but a boy struggling would attract suspicion. My own challenges taught me that education is more than books, it is about identity, belonging, and mentorship. I realized that if boys don’t have this grounding, they could become men who break, rather than build, societies. That conviction is what pulled me to boys’ education, not because girls’ education is less important, but because a balanced society cannot exist if one gender is empowered and the other is neglected.

The Boycode programme addresses limiting belief systems of boys. What are the most common ones and what elements of the ‘identity architecture’ you use have most successfully tackled these beliefs?

The most common limiting beliefs I encounter are: “I am not enough.”- “Real men don’t show emotions.”- “My background has already determined my future.”

Through our Identity Architecture framework, we dismantle these beliefs in three ways: We give them 1. a sense of belonging, creating communities where boys feel seen and valued; 2. Exposure, introducing them to new role models, industries, and ideas that stretch their imagination of what’s possible. 2. We are also big on accountability, assigning mentors and peers who challenge them to live above stereotypes. The magic happens when boys see men, not perfect, but authentic, modeling healthier identities. That shift in self-perception is often more powerful than any skill we teach.

You emphasize that fatherhood and rightly so is about preparing sons for the world. What are men and fathers saying about why sons are being left to their own devices, and what in your view would break this cycle?

Many fathers tell me, “I don’t know how to father what I never received.” They themselves were raised in silence, with little guidance beyond discipline; so they assume boys will “find their way” the same way they had to. Breaking this cycle requires two things; equipping fathers with tools for intentional parenting and redefining masculinity away from silence and toughness towards guidance and presence. Fatherhood is not about financial provision alone,  it is about emotional preparation. Once men see that difference, the cycle begins to break.

With role models of effective fatherhood lacking, what might be the unlearning that fathers and men need to do to become better?

Men must unlearn the idea that vulnerability is weakness. They must unlearn that authority equals distance and most of all, they must unlearn the myth that “real men figure it out alone.” Effective fatherhood is about presence, not perfection. When men begin to model openness, curiosity, and empathy, they not only raise healthier sons, but also heal themselves in the process.

In 4 years working on this issue, you’ve delivered some clear results. How would you describe the system you are contributing to change and how do you measure systemic change?

We are confronting an education-to-employment pipeline that is broken for boys. It’s a system where boys are often disconnected from school, lacking mentorship, and underrepresented in spaces of innovation. Our measure of systemic change is not just counting boys trained, it is tracking long-term outcomes: boys staying in school, gaining employment, building businesses, avoiding cycles of violence, and even mentoring the next generation. For me, real change is when a boy who entered our program confused and invisible becomes a man who is both competent and compassionate and then builds others.

You seem disappointed with what you call ‘’charity without infrastructure’’ – social impact initiatives just treating symptoms. Which infrastructure investments are most needed and why?

Yes, charity without infrastructure is like pouring water into a basket. It changes little. We need learning infrastructure, functional skill centers, digital labs, mentorship networks, not just donation drives. We need mental health infrastructure, because boys who are hurting will hurt others. We need policy infrastructure, frameworks that don’t just celebrate girl-child advancement but also integrate boy-child development. Without this, impact will remain scattered, emotional, and unsustainable.

Girls’ empowerment is the other side of this coin. What opportunities of collaboration do you see for enhancing impact for both boys and girls?

I believe the empowerment of one gender should never be at the expense of the other. Collaboration looks like co-creating safe spaces where boys and girls learn empathy for one another, joint programmes where both genders learn 21st-century skills, and policy advocacy that frames empowerment as a family and community issue, not just a gender issue. A balanced society requires sons and daughters rising together, anything less is incomplete development.

You believe “The future belongs to original thinkers.” What leverage does winning the prestigious Maltina Top Educator Award 2024 offer you in pushing for change and future?

That award was not just a recognition; it was a megaphone. It gave me visibility, credibility, and access to platforms where the boychild conversation had been absent. It opened doors to global networks and funders who could amplify our work. Most importantly, it gave our boys pride, to see their struggles and victories validated on a national stage. That validation fuels their confidence to also become original thinkers.

You’ve said fear of poverty has been the drive behind much of your work and you’ve also been quoted as saying ‘you like to look like money.’ How are you doing on that front?

(Laughs) Yes, I said that, because poverty is not only financial, it is also mental. My fear of poverty has never been about accumulating wealth for show, but about breaking cycles of lack, for myself, my family, and the boys I serve. Today, I’m not where I want to be yet, but I’m grateful I’m not where I used to be. Financially, I’ve grown. But more importantly, I am building wealth in impact, influence, and intellectual equity. And to me, that’s the kind of wealth that multiplies itself.

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