The 6th Annual Youth Leadership Conference, tagged: “Resilience, Innovation, Social Responsibility and Entrepreneurship (RISE 2025), held at the University of Lagos, may have come and gone, but resource persons at the conference succeeded in getting a lot of young Nigerians thinking.
The 2025 event lived up to expectations as it paraded an array of successful, brilliant brains, business miguls and role models any right-thinking youth can emulate.
They included Mr. Femi Falana, (SAN) as the keynote speaker,
Adesomoju Catherine
Opetemi, MD, Spectrum Holdings,
Dr. Femi Egbesola, the National President of ASBON, Ifedayo Durosinmi-Etti, Founder of Herconomy, Victor Agali, ex-Super Eagles international player, and
Adeniyi Kunnu, a Lecturer/Public Analyst.
Others are K.Gauthami Ben
Coordinator of Light House Lagos,
Mary Ojulari, the Founder of Mary Ojulari Foundation, Christian Chukwuka, the Founder of Abounding Grace Foundation,
Fife Banks, the CEO of BravelCONS Global and Folarin Animashaun, the
CEO of Gbirin Leko Ndan.
In their separate presentations, the keynote speaker and human rights lawyer and activist, Mr Femi Falana, urged youths to reclaim the country and redefine it the way it should be.
Falana added, “You will have to challenge those who are in power when you have access to them because some of them in power today belong to our generation. We didn’t suffer what you are going through. We lived a life of dignity.
“My generation had dreams, genuine dreams, about this country becoming one of the best in the world, because we have abundant human and natural resources that should make us a leading country in the world. But what has happened?
“Your generation must reclaim the country, and please, when you are going to listen to songs in ceremonies of this nature, please try and listen to some of the great African musicians,” Falana said.
Speaking, Mr Olusegun Odufuwa, the Convener and Founder of Superior Performance Global Network said the initiative had impacted a lot of young people over the years, saying the performance had been that of years of transformation for many.
He disclosed that beyond the annual event, the organization has stepped up efforts in providing support for attendees in the form of follow-up support, motivation, and resources to help them achieve success.
Speaking on testimonies by attendees, he said, “The biggest testimony is about success, the biggest testimony is about believing in themselves… We’ve been able to change the narrative, and the testimony we now have is that someone who was dejected many years ago has started something for themselves. They are now doing something creative for themselves out of a difficult situation”, saying many have overcome challenges and found hope and success through the programme.
He charged youths to explore legitimate directions to step forward, engage, network, and collaborate with people being informed because Information is power and our new currency. You need to be informed, and how do you get informed? Listen to news, read newspapers, get information everywhere.”
Odufuwa emphasized the importance of networking and being informed to take advantage of opportunities.
Also speaking, Mr Sam Ebube, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor Of Lagos State, frowned at the attraction of youths to isolation.
When they are frustrated, they isolate themselves. When they are angry, they isolate themselves. However, the truth is that if the lion wants to go after the head, what he first does is isolate you. So, what my voice was saying today is that always attach yourself to people that are making progress. Be friendly with friends who are making progress in life. Be with institutions that are making progress.”
“Sometimes, they are not yet willing to take you on as staff; join them for free if necessary because it is in motion that you gather the energy, the relationship, and the network to try, and sometimes, as you move, hope rises also.
He advised young Nigerians not to disqualify themselves from the race of people and organisations that are successful.