School na scam (School is a scam)!
By 2017, this phrase had become a mantra on the lips of most Nigerian youths, especially students in tertiary organizations.
Even before that time, there had been an epidemic among young people in Nigeria — many were drifting through life, unsure of their paths and yearning for something to ignite their passions, past the basic need to graduate and survive.
While deliberating on this problem, an idea inspired by the Holy Spirit began taking shape in Mr. Martins Iyekekpolor’s heart in March 2018. This idea became YouLead International, a project born from young people’s profound need for purpose, direction, and fulfillment. It had become clear that youths needed guidance to inspire them to pursue visionary living and use their education and skills as tools for change.
Mr. Iyekekpolor’s vision was simple yet powerful: “You can die in the circle of life unless you lead yourself to God’s vision for your life.” With this in mind, YouLead International set out to awaken and answer the cry for fulfillment in the hearts of one million individuals, setting them in hot pursuit of their true calling. Standing on four pillars (Leadership, Excellence, Action, and Dedication), YouLead aims to inspire, empower, nurture, and position young people to find meaning and direction.
Imagine a world where young people do not just drift through life but drive themselves with a clear sense of purpose. This dream is the reality YouLead International strives to create. We believe that wholesome education, far from being a scam, is a powerful tool for personal and community transformation. Our mission is to show young people the vast career opportunities beyond the mainstream, from tech and politics to business, academia, and fashion.
Key Programs and Initiatives
Over the last six years, YouLead has organized several projects to achieve our goals. Some of these are:
- Youlead Project 1.0 (2018)
In 2018, YouLead International launched our first project — a visit to Niger College in Benin City, Edo State. The mission of this project was to encourage the students to live a purpose-driven life and expose them to careers beyond those in the mainstream.
This project impacted the lives of the students and those on the team who brought the project to life.
“That experience really made me who I am today. Having to work with a great number of talented and skilled individuals to build that project from [the] scratch up was really an amazing experience… we were involved in the developmental process of the leaders of tomorrow, helping them discover their purpose, guiding them on how to set goals and to become better leaders as individuals.”
Chukwuma Chukwunedum, Project Manager, YouLead Project 1.0
2. YouLead Project 2.0 (2019)
Due to the success of YouLead Project 1.0, the YouLead team decided to embark on a second project for Igbinedion Educational Centre with the same message they preached at Niger College. The team went with technology, business, academia, politics, and fashion professionals. Just like with Youlead Project 1.0, 2.0 was a huge success. Here is what some students had to say:
“…I learned a lot. But one thing that actually hit me was no matter the wealth I have, no matter how much money, no matter the title, my life has to have meaning. So now I know what I want to become in future. I know what I have passion for… Thank you, Youlead, for this wonderful seminar.” — Charles, Headboy.
3. Skills Konnect Bootcamp (SKB) 3.0 (2021)
After the COVID-19 break, Youlead resumed activities with a determination to help young undergraduates and graduates acquire the necessary technological skills to advance and keep up with the times. This led to the execution of the Skills Konnect Bootcamp 3.0, which featured intense classes from professionals in Human-Centered Design, Data Analysis, Graphics Design, and Digital Marketing.
This project successfully helped over 30 individuals and provided internship placements for five outstanding students.
One of our students who got an internship placement had this to say:
“Before the course started, I did not know the first thing about Project Management; in fact, I had only heard about product management, and I actually thought they were the same when I saw it on the flier… I went into the course not knowing what to expect, but it exceeded all my expectations! This course has truly been a game-changer for me, and I can’t thank the YouLead team enough for organizing the SKB 3 program…” — Adeyemo Olorunfemi.
4. YouLead In The Streets (YITS) (2022)
By 2022, with the majority of YouLead volunteers in different cities in the country, the organization decided to celebrate our anniversary by taking the message of purpose and empowerment to the streets of Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja, and Benin City.
“One memorable event I had that I would always remember was Youled in the streets… I was really excited about going out to reach out to young people who are interested in being part of something really awesome, being part of…, learning, both personal and national development.” — Justin Jimawo. Community Member, Abuja.
5. Community Outreaches (2023)
Doubling down on the efforts and results of a successful YITS project, each community launched its projects in its respective city. The Benin Community visited an orphanage.
The Lagos Community went to IjoraBadia Secondary School, and the Slum went to Art School.
“We had an amazing time talking to the students, interacting with them, teaching them about Christ and about purpose, and also sharing items with them for their school.”
Esohe Okuomose, Deputy Director, YouLead Project.
Port Harcourt Community visited The Child School for Children with Special Needs.
“I am very grateful that you people came to support us. Because sometimes, people have this mentality [that] children with disabilities are useless. So when we see people like you, who support us, who promote us… we are very, very happy and appreciate [it]. So I want to appreciate YouLead audience for coming to our children and associating with us…” — Sr. Vicky. Director, The Child Special School.
Following this outreach, Mrs. Gladys Neob-Osaretin, a YouLeader in the Port Harcourt Community volunteered her services to organize a Special Reading Intervention Program (SRIP) for the children in the school. This program ran from January 14th to March 22nd, 2024, with 12 pupils with various special needs.
“I am greatly impressed with the children’s performance in this class. Their zeal for learning every Friday and putting what they have learned into practice is highly contagious and rewarding…” — Gladys Neob-Osaretin, SRIP Facilitator.
6. What You Need to Know (WYNTK) Webinar Series
For five Sundays (15th October-26th November 2023), the Port Harcourt Community organized a virtual webinar series tagged, “What You Need To Know”. The purpose of this webinar series was to inform, inspire, and instruct participants on the necessary steps to take in different fields. We had seasoned professionals talking about accessing international opportunities, networking, business development, and how to develop the investor’s mindset.
Facilitators in the webinar series include Martins Iyekpolor (Founder, YouLead Project and 2023 Chevening Scholar), Emmanuel Jago (VP of Growth, Palremit), Charles Boyitie (Senior Investment Analyst), Andrew Igbineweka (Founder, GoABitFurther Africa) and Bright Baridakara (Principal Consultant, Brimars Consulting Ltd). A YouTube playlist of the entire series can be accessed here.
Testimonials
Over the years, our founding volunteers have gone on to take charge of their career paths in different cities and countries. But distance is not a barrier. Every one of them still has the organization at heart and champions our affairs in all they do.
“In 2018, after school, I was looking forward to working on a hands-on project that would give me that real experience of not just project management but having to make an impact in the lives of young people, and that was when I found YouLead project. Working with other young professionals in YouLead project to execute the very first project was super amazing, and that experience taught me teamwork and collaboration…And I have been applying those principles and lessons from YouLead project even in my professional and career journey.”
Gabriel Udoka Onyebuolise, YouLeader; Innovation and Sustainability Professional.
YouLead has helped change the narrative in the hearts of some:
“I joined YouLead Project in 2018… and I initially went to tell people that school was a scam that they should definitely not be a part of. But I quickly learned that education was important and is very important and that however, the schooling systems that we find ourselves in might be the problem. It was important to be educated, so I stayed to help young people learn how to get themselves educated one way or the other.”
PraiseGod Omoregie, Director of YouLead Project
Along the line, some have identified with and aligned their personal goals with those of the organization:
“I joined YouLead because it was an organization that prided itself on social impact, impacting young people to be better versions of themselves, providing them with the skills, resources, and opportunities that they needed to advance and to become better in the society and also to impact others as well…that’s one of the most beautiful things about YouLead…YouLead gives you room to be who you want to be while pushing you to be better and to achieve all that you ever dreamed about.”
Aisiku Osebhahiemen Andrea Anchor, The Youlead Podcast.
Challenges So Far
While we have many success stories, we have also had some challenges along the way:
“[The first challenge is] decentralization. We need to be in every state in Nigeria. We need to be in every country in Africa and to be in these places, we need a physical location…[We have tried to solve this] through partnerships with several other organizations with similar interest. The other challenge is growth transitioning. Over the past few years, our members have outgrown the roles they started in, and that has meant that we will always restructure to fit new people into the system… and try to adapt to the changes in the society.”
Mr. Martins Iyekekpolor, Founder, YouLead International.
The Future Begins Now
We may have set off on a good note, but we know we have a long way to go. This knowledge enables us to dream bigger.
“Five years from now, YouLead Project will be one of the leading organizations in the world where young people from all walks of life would come find purpose and begin to run in active pursuit of a meaningful life.”
PraiseGod Omoregie, Director of YouLead Project
Our founder believes that,
“in the next five years, YouLead International will be the organization that will drive the face of youth employability in Africa. The problem of unemployment can be solved can be solved by mentorship. We can mentor people to adopt new skills and start careers and businesses, pursue educational opportunities or STEM…The goal of the mentorship for career and skill should be focused on actual problems within the community. This is why we are partnering to solve cross-sectoral problems. We will train them, mentor them, and launch them forward to solve problems and also be visionaries.”