Noel Ifeanyi Alumona is an exceptional social entrepreneur from Enugu State, Nigeria, who is at the forefront of promoting positive masculinity and gender equality in his country through Boys Champions – a not-for-profit organization he founded in 2018. In 2013, he also founded Hope for African Children, a non-profit organization that aims to increase access to education for disadvantaged children, including those with learning and physical disabilities. HOPE has provided educational opportunities for over 15,000 kids and trained 200 special education teachers in classroom management and pedagogies to support children with learning and emotional disabilities.
Driven by his passion for promoting gender equity, Noel founded Boys Champions, a youth-led organization committed to preventing gender-based violence by engaging young men and teaching them healthy masculinity and respectful relationships with women. His mission is to create safe spaces for boys and men in Nigeria and put an end to violence against women and girls. Since its inception, Boys Champions has engaged and positively impacted the lives of almost 11,000 young boys through their primary preventive youth-led programs focused on teaching healthy masculinity, respect for women, and ending violence against women and girls in Nigeria.
Noel’s efforts have been recognized both nationally and internationally. He recently received the G20 Young Global Changers Award in Berlin Germany. He also recently received the United Nations Women HeForShe Ambassador Award. He is an Obama Foundation Fellow, President Clinton Foundation Fellow, United States Institute of Peace Generation Change Fellow, and a United Nations Youth Assembly Delegate. He is also the first African and Nigerian to win the AFS Award for Young Global Citizens in New York City.
To increase access to resources, funding and mentorship opportunities for entrepreneurs, social impact and young leaders, Noel started the Shaping the Future Project which engages, empowers and connect more than 2,000 young people every year. This project provides a platform for young people to connect with experts, mentors, and resources in these areas, empowering them to use innovation and entrepreneurship to solve the world’s biggest problems.
Noel is currently pursuing his graduate studies in Special Education at Vanderbilt University in the United States. With over five years of practical classroom teaching experience, research, and monitoring and evaluation of pupil outcomes, he is well-versed in improving access to quality education in underserved communities.
In all his endeavors, Noel remains committed to creating lasting change in Nigeria and beyond. His visionary leadership, dedication to social justice, and tireless work ethic have positioned him as one of the most influential young leaders in Africa.
Dear friends,
I am excited to welcome you to Shaping the Future, a project that is close to my heart. Growing up in Nigeria, I witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by young people in accessing opportunities that could help them reach their full potential. Despite showing great skill and leadership, many of my peers lacked the resources and mentors needed to scale their abilities and make a difference in their communities.
This is why I started the Shaping the Future Project – to empower, connect, and engage young people like myself to opportunities that will change their lives and help them to change their communities. Through this programme, we have been able to provide a platform for young Africans to connect with experts, mentors, and resources in areas such as entrepreneurship, social innovation, leadership development, financial literacy, and work readiness.
Our mission is to educate, inspire, and support young people to use innovation and entrepreneurship to solve the world’s biggest problems. We believe that investing in the youth is critical to unlocking Africa’s potential for sustainable development and economic growth. By empowering young people to harness their creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit, we can create a better future for Africa and the world.
I am proud of what we have achieved so far through Shaping the Future Project. We have impacted over 2000 young people through our programmes, with over 500 of them trained in various fields, and 1200 actively engaged community members. Our alumni have gone on to achieve significant success in various fields, with some becoming CEOs of their own companies, while others are leaders in their communities.
I invite you to join us in this important mission of empowering young Africans to reach their full potential. Together, we can create a better future for Africa and the world.
Sincerely,
Noel Ifeanyi Alumona
Convener, Shaping the Future Project