Country of Residence
Nigeria
Age
19
Project title
The Perspective Youth Forum.
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
The Perspective Youth Forum is a youth‑led initiative that bridges the transition gap for secondary school leavers in Nigeria by providing mentorship, leadership, and career growth programs, while fostering inclusive mindsets and peace-building dialogues that prepare young people to thrive in university and contribute to building a united, diverse nation.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-perspective-youth-forum
Project Category
My project is a brand new / emerging idea
Project Stage
Pilot-Stage (We’ve tried an activity or two)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
Most times the problem is there but overlooked until you wear it yourself. I realized this when I finished secondary school in Nigeria. Though I had ambition, the path ahead went blank. For many leavers, the next step is waiting one or two years for university admission, often determined not by merit but by connections. In that gap, I took up tailoring to stay productive, but most of my peers wandered the streets, idle and frustrated. This stage is pivotal, yet dangerous: it pulls youth down, especially young women, who face pressures of early marriage or unwanted pregnancy. That was my “aha” moment; recognizing that this gap could either waste potential or become a platform for growth. Instead of leaving it open and unrewarding, I envisioned the Perspective Youth Forum: a youth‑led initiative that equips secondary school leavers with leadership skills, career growth tools, and mindset‑shifting programs. Through mentorship, workshops, and peer learning, we bring these young voices into the picture, preparing them for university and life beyond. Beyond leavers, we also engage youth in general who want to build and grow, creating a culture of inclusivity and peace.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
In Nigeria, secondary school leavers face a critical but overlooked gap between graduation and university admission. This waiting period often stretches one to two years, marked by frustration, idleness, and uncertainty. Admission processes are rarely based on merit, leaving many young people discouraged. During this time, countless youth wander without direction, while young women in particular face cultural pressures toward early marriage or risk of unwanted pregnancy. Instead of being a season of preparation, this gap becomes a breeding ground for wasted potential. Beyond secondary leavers, youth in general struggle with ignorance, resistance to women’s rights, and cultural divides that weaken peacebuilding efforts. These issues matter deeply because they shape the future of our communities. When young people lack guidance, they lose confidence, purpose, and the chance to become changemakers. The community suffers from disengaged youth who could otherwise be leaders, innovators, and peace-builders. This problem matters to me personally because I lived it; I experienced the blank path after graduation and saw my peers fall into frustration. Addressing this gap is not just about education; it is about protecting dreams, empowering voices, and building a generation ready to lead with empathy and inclusivity.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
As an alumnus of the Aspire Leaders Program, now in university, I envisioned a similar model tailored for secondary school leavers. Most leadership and capacity‑building cohorts are reserved for undergraduates or postgraduates, leaving leavers idle during a critical stage of life. Our solution is to bridge this gap by creating a Leadership Academy Cohort designed specifically for them. This program equips young people with growth‑oriented mindsets, leadership skills, and career readiness while they wait for admission, turning idle time into purposeful preparation. We put this vision into action through practical programs. We hosted a LinkedIn Mastery for Career Growth session, inviting a speaker to guide students on leveraging LinkedIn. This was followed by a 14‑day LinkedIn Challenge, encouraging participants to consistently show up and build their professional presence. We organized a Literacy Awareness Session and a three‑day awareness challenge, sparking conversations around education and empowerment. Most recently, we partnered with The Campus Conversation at Gombe State University, engaging students in peacebuilding dialogues that bridged cultural divides. Our solution combines mentorship, workshops, peer learning, and resource development. By providing access to training, counseling, and community‑building activities, we empower secondary school leavers and marginalized youth to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. In action, this means young people gain confidence, clarity, and inclusivity; preparing them not only for university but for life as change-makers.
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
The Perspective Youth Forum is still in its early stage, but the impact is already visible. Through our LinkedIn Mastery session and the 14‑day LinkedIn Challenge, we engaged over 40 students who began showing up more confidently online and building professional networks. Our Literacy Awareness Session and three‑day challenge sparked conversations among dozens of youth about the importance of education and personal growth. Partnering with The Campus Conversation at Gombe State University allowed us to reach another group of students, fostering dialogue on peacebuilding and cultural bridging. While our numbers are modest — roughly 100 youth reached so far — the stories are powerful. Participants have shared how they now see themselves as leaders, how they are motivated to pursue opportunities, and how they are rethinking cultural divides. In the next year, we aim to scale this impact to at least 500 secondary school leavers and marginalized youth, equipping them with mentorship, counseling, and leadership training. Impact will look like young people who are not only prepared for university but also ready to lead with empathy, resilience, and inclusivity.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
What makes the Perspective Youth Forum different is its focus on secondary school leavers, a group often ignored in leadership and capacity building programs. While most initiatives target undergraduates or graduates, we step in earlier; during the waiting period before university admission, when youth are most vulnerable to frustration, idleness, and harmful influences. By offering mentorship, mindset‑shifting leadership cohorts, and career readiness training at this stage, we transform idle time into purposeful growth. Our innovation lies in combining career development with peacebuilding and inclusivity. Nigeria is a nation where discrimination is deeply entrenched — against LGBTQ+ communities, against women through misogynistic norms, and even through class divides that dictate what the poor or rich “should” look like. The Perspective Youth Forum, true to its name, is shaping youth by inviting all voices into the conversation. We create spaces where young people unlearn harmful stereotypes, relearn empathy, and embrace diversity as a strength. Through LinkedIn mastery workshops, literacy awareness campaigns, and peace dialogues like The Campus Conversation, we equip youth with practical tools for success while fostering inclusive mindsets. Challenges such as the 14‑day LinkedIn initiative encourage consistent participation, while peace dialogues allow diverse perspectives to be heard and respected. This dual approach preparing youth for academic and career success while dismantling discriminatory attitudes and nurturing empathy; is what makes our project innovative. We are not just filling a gap; we are reimagining it as a launchpad for resilient, inclusive, and peace‑driven leaders.
How many people are on your team?
5
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
Though still early, we are building a strong structure. Currently, five people keep the forum moving, with others supporting through engagement. Our core inner team of three share leadership equally as co‑founders, each from different ethnic groups, institutions, and courses. The Program Lead is a female law student, the Operations Lead is a northern undergraduate entrepreneur, and I serve as Partnership Lead as a medical student from the east. We are supported by a Community Manager & designer
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
Over the next year, our priority is to launch the Leadership Academy Cohort for Secondary School Leavers, modeled after Aspire but tailored to their unique waiting period before university. This program will provide mentorship, mindset‑shifting sessions, and career readiness training and most likely seminar and conferences. We plan to expand our workshops and awareness campaigns, building on LinkedIn Mastery, literacy awareness, and peace dialogues, while developing resource materials accessible both online and offline. We will strengthen partnerships with universities and youth organizations, replicating cultural bridging dialogues across campuses, and extend outreach to marginalized communities. As a nation that discriminates across lines of gender, class, and identity; from misogyny to LGBTQ+ exclusion; the forum, true to its name Perspective, will invite all voices into the conversation, shaping youth to embrace diversity and inclusivity. Our next steps also include building a sustainable structure: securing funding, training volunteers, and scaling digital engagement to reach at least 500 youth in the next year. By doing this, we aim to transform idle time into purposeful growth and position the Perspective Youth Forum as a recognized and registered platform for peace, inclusivity, and leadership development.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
At this early stage, we encourage participation by making our programs practical, relatable, and inclusive. So far, we have engaged about 100 youth through initiatives like our LinkedIn Mastery session, the 14‑day LinkedIn Challenge, literacy awareness campaigns, and peace dialogues. Participants have actively shared posts, joined challenges, and contributed to discussions, helping us amplify our reach. We use social media to share stories and highlight youth voices, inviting others to join the conversation. Our diverse team also leverages networks across different institutions and ethnic groups to bring in new participants. Looking ahead, we plan to expand outreach through partnerships with schools, universities, and community organizations, ensuring that secondary school leavers and marginalized youth see the Perspective Youth Forum as a safe space to learn, grow, and lead. By activating peers as ambassadors, we aim to build a movement where youth themselves drive awareness, inclusivity, and peace.
