Future Leaders Network, a Nigerian youth-centric hub, will host its “Future Leaders Conference” on Saturday, 2 April 2022. Free and open to all, the conference is slated to start at 8 a.m. and last until 2 p.m. Venue: The Dome, 1 Freedom Way, Lekki Phase I, Lagos State. Registration can be done here.
The conference’s theme is “Managing Political, Economic, and Social Reform.” Many industry thought leaders will grace the event, and will be speaking on the topic. One of them, also the keynote speaker of the day, is Atedo Peterside, the founder and pioneer CEO of Stanbic IBTC Plc and founder of ANAP Foundation.
The musician, actor, and politician, Banky W, will feature as a guest speaker. There’s likewise a crop of four panellists:
(a) Kola Oyeneyin, founder of Venia Group
(b) Moji Rhodes, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Developmental and Humanitarian Affairs
(c) Yemi Ademolekun, Executive Director of Enough Is Enough
(d) Zeal Akaraiwe, CEO of Graeme Blaque Group
In an interview with Culture Custodian, Bolaji Onalaja — a Future Leaders Network representative — says the youth-based hub was conceived so as to bring together young, intelligent, and educated Nigerians, who are united by their passion for their country. “Our goal,” he says, “is to raise leaders of tomorrow in the economic, social and political spheres.”
“We plan to achieve this by creating a community through small group masterclasses led by industry professionals, online town hall meetings where our community members debate contested topics, conferences and interactive events.”
Saturday’s conference, which Onalaja assures will be an overflow of food, music and art, is in line with the network’s vision. The network hopes the conference will “formulate positive conversations amongst the youths and birth an environment for youths to be able to learn, understand and stimulate bolder youth participation in matters pertaining to the country’s development.”
Onalaja adds that hard and important questions will be asked and discussed during the conference: “How can we accelerate funding for youths seeking political offices? How can we use technology to foster social development? What is the role of social activism in national development? What can we learn from the End SARS protests? And more.”
The conference, Onalaja said, will inspire in attendees “a sense of comfort” and comradeship, from being in a room full of like-minded persons.
The network has hosted similar events in the past. Among them is the “Power, Oil & Gas Business Forum” with Yomi Awobokun, CEO of Enyo Retail Limited, which took place last year, and “The Youth, Voice of the Nation Webinar” led by Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, which took place in 2022.