2023 YIL Fellows

These are young professionals who have been inducted as Y.I.L Fellows. After the four months intensive programme, they have emerged as Fellows. They are professionals in whom we have found some seeds of excellence and we are glad to offer them a platform to scale up their excellence. They were selected from across Africa through a rigorous screening process.
Folakemi Joaloso

Stephen Akinrodoye is a solution-oriented dentist who obtained his BDS degree from the University of Ibadan. He honed his clinical expertise by working in various private and government-owned hospitals. He is currently an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery resident at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital. Stephen advocates for food security, tobacco control and global warming; and believes innovative solutions that rely on data-backed insights are crucial to addressing these problems.

Folakemi Joaloso

Harriet Afandi is a Social Entrepreneur born and raised in Western Kenya. Harriet studied Bachelor of Project Planning and Management at Karatina University. In 2021, she secured an internship with GDC Kenya, then volunteered the following year as a trainer and trained 30 households on Sustainable Agribusiness.
She has also joined World Pulse where she won a Story Award. Harriet has empowered 1500 people from Kenya and beyond and has been featured by Hope Pyx Global for advocacy for the SDGs.

Folakemi Joaloso

Promise Okwuchukwu is a talented and versatile individual committed to revolutionizing Africa’s hardware infrastructure. He has a diverse range of skills, including UX design, hardware engineering, entrepreneurship, team leadership, and outstanding communication abilities.
In 2019, he increased the revenue of Phil.com.ng, an e-commerce website that caters to 200,000 students in southeastern Nigeria by 60% as the Chief Operating Officer. In 2020, he led the development of a unique Education Hub at the University of Nigeria, the first of its kind in southeastern Nigeria. In 2021, he was named Tongston’s Entrepreneur of the Year, and in 2022 he won a grant and equally pitched at the finals of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Tertiary Institution Entrepreneurship Scheme program. He also played a pivotal role in the development of a revolutionary solar cell technology using perovskite material.

With extensive experience in embedded systems, project management, team leadership, and growth, Promise excels at driving projects forward and achieving exceptional outcomes.

Folakemi Joaloso

I am a final year law student at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. I am deeply passionate about academic excellence and social impact. Recently I was honored with the prestigious Nigeria Higher Education Foundation Award as a scholar. This scholarship as well as my work experience as further fueled my commitment to leadership and making a positive impact in the society.
My ultimate career goal is to become an Intellectual Property Compliance and Advisory Lawyer. I aspire to utilize my knowledge, skills, and experiences to offer valuable services and develop innovative products that address pressing social concerns.
I firmly believe in the power of education and innovation to transform lives and communities. By leveraging education, relationships, and my passion for societal development, I am determined to make a meaningful and lasting impact in addressing various innovation challenges that Nigeria faces.

Folakemi Joaloso

Success Oghenekaro Enarevba holds a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Delta State University Abraka, Nigeria, as well as industry-based certifications in Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE 1,2,&3), Human Resources management (HRM), and Mental Health (level 2&3). He is also highly skilled in graphic design, copywriting, video editing, video creation, and social media management/visualization tools, making him a well-rounded professional. Additionally, Success possesses excellent communication skills.

Folakemi Joaloso

Symon Mtegha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Internal Auditing from University of Malawi- The Polytechnic. Despite his academic background, his passion for investment management led him to pursue various certifications in finance. He has acquired expertise in financial modelling and valuation analysis, capital markets and securities analysis, and business intelligence and data analysis through his hard work and dedication.

Folakemi Joaloso

Victoria Imoh Udoh is a recent law graduate of University of Nigeria who hails from Akwaibom State, Nigeria.

She is an Alternative Dispute Resolution Enthusiast and her quest for professional development has earned her-Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, a Member of the Institute of ADR Registrars, and the President of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society, University of Nigeria.

On an international platform, she is the West Africa Regional Director for the Federation of African Law Students. She is also the Founder of The Budding Lawyers Space(BLS), an educative networking hub for Nigerian law students. She is a writer and as a scholar per excellence, she has published various legal articles in local and international journals and magazines. She has received so many awards including- NICARB Young Arbitrator of the Year, Legal Revelation of the Year 2019, Top 20 Finalist, WIPO National Essay Competition, Best Essay The Christian Aniukwu Prize for Advocacy, Most Innovative Female Law Student, UNN, Top 20 Outstanding Law Students in Nigeria and an International Award of Excellence from FALAS. She is the Author of the book “Trends in the Nigerian Jurisprudence”, available on Amazon and over 30,000 online stores for sale.
She is a host, public speaker, and personal development coach.

Folakemi Joaloso

Nnadozie Amarachi Geraldine is an alumna of the McKenzie Forward program and a creative designer with a degree in Industrial Physics from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

She is passionate about the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly advancing agricultural sustainability and addressing gender-based violence. With a strong commitment to creating lasting change, Amarachi combines her educational background and enthusiasm for innovation to promote equity, sustainability, and impactful solutions for communities.

Folakemi Joaloso

Victory Ochuwa Omuera is a dedicated dental student at the esteemed University of Benin. With a strong belief in social development, Victory is a passionate advocate for leadership, community service, and civic participation as key solutions to Africa’s developmental challenges.

Collaborating with non-profit organizations, she actively supports initiatives that enhance healthcare accessibility, skills development, and gender equality. In her pursuit to empower women in Africa through education, Victory founded All-RoundHER, a thriving capacity-building network. Through educational webinars and mentorship programs, this community has grown to include over a hundred women from eight countries. She was also recognized as the winner of the inaugural Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) Youth Leadership Debate Competition.

Folakemi Joaloso

Egwu Victoria is a Nigerian who graduated with a second-class upper degree in Biotechnology from Ebonyi State. She is a passionate learner who seizes every opportunity to acquire new knowledge. Currently, she is serving as a Human Resource Manager at Timidos Engineering & Sons Nig Ltd where she is responsible for managing the recruitment and training of employees.
Victoria is also a multi-talented individual with skills in various areas such as YouTube content creation, voice-over artistry, writing, and digital marketing. Her YouTube channel is filled with informative and engaging content, and she is also known for her exceptional voice-over skills.

Folakemi Joaloso

Bukola Adeseye is a Mathematics graduate of Adekunle Ajasin University in Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. She works with the Teaching Service Commission at a low-income community in Abule-eko Ijede, where she simplifies difficult concepts in Mathematics for her learners.
Two years ago, Bukola served as a fellow with Teach for Nigeria, which equipped her with essential skills to thrive as a 21st-century teacher leader.

Folakemi Joaloso

Alwala is the Founder of the #Take Care Of Your Mental Health Initiative, which aims to raise awareness for mental illness and provide support to those in need by partnering with licensed therapists and using other methods to improve people’s situations. Alwala is also a 2023 Global Changemaker Fellow, 2022 GLP Fellow, a certified and trained member of World Youth Alliance, and a participant in the Harvard Institute Aspire Leaders Program 2023 Cycle One.

Folakemi Joaloso

Fernando Fernando Sozinho is a passionate social and environmental activist who advocates for human rights, gender equality, assistance for vulnerable children, access to education, climate change mitigation, and environmental preservation. He is currently a student at the Faculty of Education, specializing in language teaching. In addition to his activism work, he is also a multi-talented artist, working as a comedian, theater performer, poet, and musician. Fernando has showcased his acting skills as the protagonist in the movie “ENTRE ASPAS” directed by Assane Ramadane. Fernando is an active member of various non-profit youth organizations, such as MOSOLECA and AFRICAN VOICE.

Folakemi Joaloso

Oluwadara Temitope Ilori is a talented legal professional who obtained her law degree from Ajayi Crowther University. She is recognized for her strong work ethics and sharp analytical skills, making her a promising figure in the legal field. Oluwadara is known for her unwavering dedication to excellence and her eagerness to take on new challenges, both academically and professionally. With her remarkable potential, she is expected to make significant contributions to the legal profession in the future.

Folakemi Joaloso

Mikal is an individual driven by an immense passion for technology and machinery. With a deep-rooted desire to enhance society through invention and engineering expertise, Mikal strives to create positive impacts on people’s lives. As a lifelong learner, Mikal embraces the joy of reading, constantly seeking new perspectives and immersing themselves in diverse cultures. With a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from EIT and a micromasters degree in IoT as a data scientist, Mikal has embarked on an entrepreneurial journey in the field of solar and renewable energy. Their notable achievements include developing a prototype for an innovative stove, participating in pitch contests across various platforms, and securing acceptance into an accelerator program to bring their visionary idea to life.

Folakemi Joaloso

Ibitoye Adebukola Grace is a physiotherapy graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University and currently works as a physiotherapist at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. As a public health enthusiast, she is an associate of the International Institute of Safety Management. Adebukola actively engages in clinical research with a track record of scientific publications in high-profile journals to improve healthcare delivery globally. She was the chief research officer for her team at the SDG Innovation Challenge 2022 where her team emerged top ten. For social impact, she has served in different leadership capacities and volunteered in many organizations especially health based, including Exercise is Medicine (EIM) Nigeria. Adebukola is passionate about child care and the promotion of healthy practices among the youth. She looks forward to spearheading an initiative in this regard. Adebukola believes in consistency and simplicity. She also enjoys sewing and designing fabrics.

Folakemi Joaloso

Isaac has a Diploma in Accountancy from Harare Polytechnic. Currently working as Provincial Accounting Assistant. He worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 3 years, he developed an interest in health-related studies. In 2023, he enrolled at Brigham Young University for a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Health. Isaac is absorbed in serving others and yearns for wisdom because his motivation is to care and be responsible for others. He is also an African Civic Engagement Academy 2022 Fellow.

Folakemi Joaloso

Irenosen is an outstanding individual with a wealth of knowledge and a First-Class Honours degree in microbiology from Samuel Adegboyega University in Edo State, Nigeria. She was recognized for her excellence as a student by receiving an award from the foundation of the former Vice President of the African Development Bank, Dr Olabisi Ogunjobi. As a Stipendium Hungaricum scholar, she is currently pursuing an MSc degree in public health at Debreceni Egyetem in Hungary. Irenosen is passionate about promoting wholesome and healthy living awareness and is committed to making a positive impact in her community.

Folakemi Joaloso

Oyinkansola Aje is an ambitious accountant working at a management consulting firm. She has a natural inclination towards leadership, having taken up leadership roles in school and church. In general, she is a talented young professional with a bright future ahead of her. Oyinkansola continues to inspire others with her passion for finance, business, and leadership. She is determined to make a difference in her organization and the environment at large. In her free time, Oyinkansola enjoys reading and networking.

Folakemi Joaloso

Galadima Zubairu Khalifa is a well-accomplished individual who currently serves as the Chairman of House of 9 and a member of the Board of Directors of Green Farm and Agro-Consultancy Limited. With a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Kaduna State University, Khalifa has a strong background in the field.
Khalifa is also known for his activism as a unionist, and has been recognized for his efforts with various awards such as the Award as an Icon of Human Development, Award for Selfless Service, and Leadership Award for kindness, positivity, and grit, among others.
Aside from his professional endeavors, Khalifa is also a philanthropist with a passion for traveling, physical exercise, and researching.

Folakemi Joaloso

Kehinde Ayodele holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, with a passion for project research, food security and nutrition, and community development. With experience in facilitation and community management, Kehinde has successfully trained over 800 local MSMEs in the poultry and ICT value chain. As a team player, Kehinde has contributed to several group projects in the past. Kehinde is committed to personal and professional growth. In free time, Kehinde enjoys reading and listening to music.

Folakemi Joaloso

Jean Claude MUJYANAMA is a cofounder and General Treasurer of SIMEC Organization, which focuses on peace building and community development. He is also ready to contribute to the world economy with practical learning, coordination, innovation, and organizational leadership expertise. His greatest professional achievement was completing his Bachelor’s degree in 4 years and founding SIMEC Organization, where he led a project aimed at peace building and stability in the region.

Folakemi Joaloso

Oru Benson Akum is a Cameroonian teacher, born in 1988 in Manyemen. He received his FSLC in 1998, GTC in 2000, and completed CAP industrial training in Fitter Machinist. In 2009, he obtained his Baccalaureate Technique from GTHS Kumba. Akum then went on to study at the University Institute of Technology in Douala, where he obtained a DUT in 2012 and a Degree of Technology in Mechanical Engineering in 2013. He continued his studies at the University of Buea from 2015 to 2017 and earned a DIPET II in Mechanical Design. In 2020, he obtained an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Yaounde 1 and is currently enrolled as a PhD student.