In alignment with the Civic Engagement Pillar of the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship, Ajibola Oladiipo, 2025 EPLF Fellow, implemented his civic engagement activity by organizing “Igniting Civic Power: Youth Participation for National Development,” a two-day interactive event held on Monday, September 15, and Tuesday, September 16, 2025, which drew 80 students.
Planting the Seeds of Civic Power through Ajibola’s Lens
When the fellowship tasked Ajibola with designing a civic engagement project, he knew exactly where to focus his energy. He wanted to invest in the future of Nigeria by investing in its children. For him, the choice was not about what was easiest to implement, but about what mattered most, preparing the next generation for leadership and national development.
The initiative, Igniting Civic Power, was built around four themes close to his heart: leadership, food security, environmental sustainability, and waste management. Over the course of two days, more than eighty students from Eleyele High School and Eleyele Secondary School in Ibadan North West Local Government participated in sessions that challenged them to see themselves differently. The goal was simple but profound: to demonstrate that self-leadership is the foundation of national progress. When young people learn to take responsibility in small matters, whether in disposing of waste properly, respecting the law, or honouring parents and teachers, they begin to lay the bricks for the kind of nation we all long to build.
Leadership in Action: Lessons from the Classroom (Key Outcomes)
The sessions were designed to move beyond abstract lectures into meaningful conversations. With the junior students in SS1 and SS2, Ajibola explored the building blocks of civic responsibility. He discussed why obeying traffic lights is not just about safety, why protecting national symbols like the flag, anthem, and pledge is about pride and identity, and why paying taxes is essential to keeping the country running. These seemingly ordinary acts, he reminded them, are not trivial details but the backbone of responsible citizenship.
With the senior students in SS3, the conversations went deeper. Ajibola led career mapping and goal-setting sessions, equipping them to think deliberately about life after secondary school. Their questions revealed both anxiety and hunger: How do I choose a career path? What if I fail an exam? Where do I find opportunities? In those moments, it became clear that they were not just looking for answers but for guidance, mentorship, and reassurance that their ambitions were possible.
One of the most powerful experiences came during a discussion on career aspirations. A boy stood up and declared that he wanted to become a farmer, and the class erupted in laughter. Ajibola seized that moment to speak about the dignity of labour. He reminded them that food security is the bedrock of national survival and that farming, too often mocked, is a noble pursuit that demands vision and innovation. Using his own journey as an example, he emphasized that leadership is not about titles but about hard work and integrity in whatever field one chooses. By the time he finished, the room was silent, and it was clear that a seed had been planted in their minds.
Tangible Tools, Real Experiences
The programme did not end with conversations alone. Ajibola wanted the students to carry something with them, something that could continue shaping their lives long after the event ended. Each participant received a copy of his book Rising Together and a notebook for setting goals, journaling reflections, and planning their next steps. These were not mere gifts; they were tools, a way to remind the students that their dreams and thoughts deserved to be written down and pursued with clarity.
He also wanted them to see the consequences of inaction. During their first-term break, the students will pay courtesy visits to dumpsites in Ibadan, supported by local waste management partners. The experience will expose them to the realities of poor waste habits and challenge them to imagine solutions. By connecting theory to lived reality, the visit will deepen their understanding of environmental sustainability and spark responsibility in ways that classroom lectures alone cannot achieve.
What Was Achieved
By the end of the programme, the impact was evident. More than eighty students had been directly reached across two schools. They gained new insights into self-leadership, civic responsibility, and environmental stewardship. They participated in discussions that challenged their attitudes toward hard work and career choices, including the nobility of farming. The SS3 students, in particular, benefited from structured career mapping and goal-setting workshops that gave them a clearer sense of direction and confidence for life after school. The books and notebooks provided tangible tools to extend these lessons beyond the sessions, keeping the conversation alive in their daily routines.
Lessons That Emerged (Lessons Learnt)
The project revealed important truths about working with young people. Mentorship matters more than is often realized. The students, especially those in SS3, were eager for structured guidance as they prepared for adulthood. Ajibola also discovered the power of personal storytelling. When he shared his own struggles and victories, the lessons became relatable, and the students listened more intently. Tools also matter. The books and notebooks provided were not just symbolic gestures; they amplified learning by giving the students resources to reflect on long after the program ended. Above all, the experience confirmed that secondary school students are deeply receptive to civic values when engaged early. They are not too young to understand responsibility, they are ready and waiting.
The Road Ahead (Next Steps)
This project is only the beginning of a much larger vision. The next phase will focus on scaling up to more schools across Ibadan North West and eventually extending to other parts of Oyo State. The plan is to establish Leadership and Civic Responsibility Clubs within schools where students can continue these conversations and put them into practice. Ajibola also intends to organize more career guidance workshops that will cover scholarships, entrepreneurship, and essential life skills, while mobilizing resources to support the refurbishment of dilapidated school buildings so that students can learn in environments that inspire dignity.
There is also a plan to deepen environmental consciousness by partnering with local NGOs and waste management authorities to establish recycling clubs, clean-up drives, and student-led debates on sustainability. By embedding responsibility into school life, civic engagement can become a daily habit rather than a one-off lesson.
Conclusion: Rising Together
The Igniting Civic Power project was never just about teaching civic duties. It was about planting seeds, seeds of self-leadership, dignity, responsibility, and national pride. The sessions showed that students are eager for guidance, hungry for mentorship, and deeply open to the values that can transform a nation. If Nigeria is to rise to its full potential, then the work must begin here, in classrooms filled with young people who carry the promise of tomorrow. With the right vision and courage, these seeds will grow into leaders who will not just dream of a better nation, but build it.
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