Award-winning Nollywood Producer & Director Sayo Aluko has released episode one of his hilarious web series, “Abata,” (Muddy Waters) and this first episode stars Funsho Adeolu, Jumoke Odetola, Niyi Johnson, and other actors.
Award-winning Nollywood Producer & Director Sayo Aluko has released episode one of his hilarious web series, “Abata,” (Muddy Waters) and this first episode stars Funsho Adeolu, Jumoke Odetola, Niyi Johnson, and other actors.
The Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment (S.M.I.L.E) once again demonstrated its commitment to fostering youth leadership and driving positive change as it successfully hosted the Youth Leadership Summit and commemorated the United Nations International Youth Day.
The event, which took place at the Regal Hall Oregun Lagos on Saturday, August 12th 2023, brought together over 600 guests which including young leaders, undergraduates, entrepreneurs, professionals, and advocates from diverse backgrounds to engage in thought-provoking discussions, dynamic workshops, and meaningful networking opportunities.
The event kicked off with a warm welcome and house rules set by the compere, setting the tone for a day of meaningful engagement. The Nigerian National Anthem was beautifully rendered by saxophonist Oluwafemi Omomowo, creating a patriotic ambience that resonated with the spirit of unity and empowerment.
The opening remarks by Olabisi Ibitayo, CEO of Limelight EduConsult, marked the beginning of a journey filled with insights, inspiration, and transformation. The event seamlessly transitioned into the United Nations International Youth Day segment, focused on the theme “Green Skills for Youth: Towards A Sustainable World.”
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Nigeria, Matthias Schmale conveyed the United Nations Secretary-General’s message by Antonio Guterres, emphasizing the pivotal role of youth in shaping a sustainable future. A video message by Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, further underscored the importance of youth-driven initiatives in addressing global challenges.
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Matthias Schmale, also delivered a special remark that highlighted the importance of youth acquiring green skills to enable them to access green jobs and foster a sustainable world.
The event was also designed to create a lively atmosphere of excitement, energy and relaxation.
The event continued with a deep dive into success strategies through the session “Visioning and Developing a Strategic Road Map for Success’ by Gbenga Folayan, Managing Partner of Rossette Consulting and member of S.M.I.L.E’s Board of Trustees. He shared valuable insights and tools for crafting a roadmap for personal and professional success.
Stepping into the spotlight, Idy Enang, CEO of Corporate Shepherds/ President of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria(NIMN) and a cherished member of S.M.I.L.E’s Board of Trustees led an insightful session on the art of Branding Yourself, Your Ideas and Initiatives
A major highlight of the event was a spotlight competition tagged “pitch-a-thon” moderated by Tobi Olaitan. It was so exhilarating to watch these promising young leaders pitch their ideas to the audience and judges. From the preliminary stage to the final stage of the competition, we saw the young participants deploy their networking, negotiating and public speaking skills to convince the judges about the potency of their ideas.
After a keenly contested competition that also had a person with a disability in the final stage, three winners emerged namely:
First Position: Mustapha Olorunwa Najmudeen
Second Position: Opeyemi Adeyemo
Third Position: Divine Ezendiokwere