Economic Growth Nigeria Project #52120

One Million Leaders Africa Project

by Next Leaders Initiative for Sustainability

Project Report | Mar 5, 2026
Teenagers Leading Change Through OMLA School Clubs

By Mary Afolabi | OMLA Project Director

The OMLA School Clubs continue to demonstrate remarkable initiative, social awareness, and practical skill development among teenagers in Nigeria. Through structured activities and peer-led initiatives, students are actively growing as critical thinkers, advocates, and young changemakers within their communities.

The clubs led a powerful awareness campaign addressing violence against women. The initiative focused on increasing understanding of the various forms of violence—physical, emotional, and systemic—that women and girls experience in different community settings. By educating their peers and engaging in advocacy conversations, OMLA members contributed to promoting a culture of respect, accountability, and prevention within their schools and surrounding communities.

In addition, OMLA Club members at Ijo Mimo High School, Akure, organized and facilitated a peer-to-peer vocational training session, transferring practical skills acquired during the OMLA Bootcamp to other students. The training included essential baking techniques for popular snacks such as Chin Chin, Egg Roll, Puff Puff, and Buns, as well as introductory crocheting skills.

This peer-led knowledge transfer demonstrates the sustainability and multiplier effect of the OMLA model—empowering young people not only to learn, but to teach, lead, and create economic opportunities for themselves and others.

Through these integrated activities—critical dialogue, social advocacy, and vocational empowerment—OMLA continues to nurture a new generation of ethical, skilled, and socially responsible leaders.

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Nov 6, 2025
Driving Scalable Change at Every Level

By Mary Afolabi | Project Director

The third quarter of 2025 was a period of electrifying growth, validating the OMLA model for driving scalable change at every level. This timeframe marked a pivotal transition for the 4th Fellowship Cohort, as Fellows moved from intensive training and mentorship into the crucial phase of execution and fundraising, which culminated in the highly successful OMLA Deal Room.

This Deal Room saw the mobilization of the biggest, boldest plans the world has ever seen from our Fellows, all focused on creating massive global impact. This success is a powerful validation of the entire OMLA model and the intense preparation completed during the quarter. As Fellow Polyne Nafula (Kenya) remarked, “OMLA has empowered me to turn my vision into action, and I am deeply grateful for its lasting impact on my journey.”

The OMLA Fellowship 2025 officially concluded with a momentous virtual Graduation Ceremony on Friday, October 10, 2025. This event honored 60 Graduating Fellows and their 74 dedicated team members (OMLA Champions), celebrating the resilience and dedication demonstrated throughout the program. We proudly recognized their formal transition from program participants to members of our influential Alumni Community, and we look forward to tracking their continuing, scalable impact across the continent.

Grassroots Impact: The OMLA Bootcamp

Concurrent to the Fellowship milestones, the third quarter witnessed a period of crucial activity at the grassroots level with the execution of the annual OMLA Bootcamp. We took decisive action to address the critical skills gap in underserved communities across Ondo State, successfully mobilizing and training an impressive cohort of 91 motivated teenagers (56 females, 35 male) from distant and often marginalized areas.

The August flagship event provided vital, hands-on instruction led by experts in high-demand areas, including basic ICT, Baking and Confectionery, and Craft Making, alongside foundational leadership training on Goal Setting and Goal Mapping. This intensive approach resulted in tangible outcomes: participants proudly showcased final projects, such as a fully developed Chicken Row game, a variety of market-ready baked goods, and beautifully crocheted items.

Validated Success Metrics

The impact of this grassroots program is officially validated. Survey results confirmed an outstanding achievement: 100% of all participants acquired new skills in their chosen area. Furthermore, a remarkable 98.7% of these young leaders now feel confidently equipped to generate a sustainable source of income. This near-perfect metric confirms the program’s power in driving economic self-reliance.

We extend our sincere thanks to our committed partners for their ongoing belief in this work; together, we are actively fueling the future of African leadership at every level.

Links:

https://onemillionleadersafrica.org/

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Jun 17, 2025
Empowering Young African Social Entrepreneurs

By Mary Afolabi | Project Director

We are pleased to share the significant progress made in 2025 in empowering young African leaders to drive social change through entrepreneurship. The OMLA program directly contributing to the development of innovative solutions for critical community challenges across the continent.

Through our dedicated efforts, we have successfully empowered approximately 80 young Africans in the foundational stages of launching their social enterprises. This cohort represents a diverse group of passionate individuals recruited from 23 countries across Africa, all committed to fostering a better future for the continent.

These emerging leaders (Fellows) underwent rigorous training based on the OMLA curriculum's five core pillars, which encompass essential thematic areas:

Social Entrepreneurship
Leadership and Sustainability
Digital Technology
Social Innovation

During the training, fellows were equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to develop impactful projects and social enterprises specifically designed to address pressing challenges within their local communities, aligning with their personal passions. To further support their visibility and outreach, we also secured website hosting for OMLA fellows, enabling them to create dedicated platforms to showcase their innovative projects to a wider audience.

Upcoming Milestones

A significant upcoming event is the online pitch day scheduled for June 26th, where each fellow will present their developed project. This event serves as a crucial opportunity to secure potential sponsorships, partnerships, and additional support for their ventures, moving their ideas from concept to actionable solutions.

We extend our sincere gratitude for your continued support, which is instrumental in enabling these young leaders to realize their potential and create a sustainable impact in their communities. We believe in the transformative power of these initiatives and look forward to sharing further updates on their journey.

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