The Nigerian office of FORD Foundation, (one of the World’s most prominent and impact driven Donor Organizations committed to Social Good and renowned for its support for visionary leaders and organizations on the frontlines of social change worldwide) played host to their Colleagues from New York and FF’s regional offices in Africa including FF’s Vice President – Hilary Pennington to a weeklong Africa Regional Program Meeting which took place between the 26th – 30th of October 2015.
One of the activities that took place during the weeklong exercise was a round table discussion on “Youth Development in Nigeria: Opportunities and Challenges” with some of Nigeria’s Youth Led Social Enterprises and Non Profits. The discussion which held on Thursday the 29th of October, 2015 at the Lagos Office of Ford Foundation was set up to learn from partners and potential Project partners within the Africa Youth space on opportunities and challenges in Youth engagement and development and to share perspectives on how to address Youth agency, youth Leadership and Learning systems that support transition and opportunities for Job Creation.
RISE Networks, Nigeria’s Leading Social Enterprise with a strategic focus on Youth and Education Development represented by Toyosi Akerele- Ogunsiji – Founder / CEO, Bobola Omotuyi – Stakeholder Relations Coordinator & Busola Ojumu – Administrator, was present at the round table discussion with other notable Youth Led NGOs namely;
- LEAP Africa
- The Future Project
- West Africa Vocational Education (WAVE)
- The Lady Mechanic Initiative
- Generation Enterprise
- Y EN A MARRE (Senegal)
- Afterschool Centre for Career Development
The Round-table discussion was illuminating and insightful as RISE Networks and the other participating organisations reeled out their achievements, challenges and future commitments to Youth Development in Nigeria. Below are some of the Photos from the meet.

From Left to Right: Mrs Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji MD/CEO RISE Networks, A representative of Ford Foundation, Sandra Aguebo Founder Lady Mechanic Initiative and Hilary Pennington Ford Foundation’s Africa Office Vice President

From Left to Right: Mrs Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji MD/CEO RISE Networks, Mrs Joy Ehinor Ezesobor Program Assistant Ford Foundation, Sandra Aguebor Founder Lady Mechanic Initiative

Sharing a moment with Mr Innocent Chukwuma of Ford Foundation and Sandra Aguebor of Lady Mechanic Initiative

From Left to Right: Mrs Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji MD/CEO RISE Networks, Hilary Pennington Vice President of Ford Foundation’s Africa office Busola Ojumu Administrator at RISE Networks and Bobola Omotuyi Stakeholder Relations Coordinator at RISE Networks

Frome Left to Right: From Left to Right: A representative of Ford Foundation, Mrs Joy Ehinor-Ezesobor Program Assistant at Ford Foundation, Mrs Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji MD/CEO RISE Networks, Hilary Pennington Vice President of Ford Foundation’s Africa office, Sandra Aguebor Founder of Lady Mechanic Initiative, Busola Ojumu Administrator at RISE Networks and Bobola Omotuyi Stakeholder Relations Coordinator at RISE Networks and a representative from Lady Mechanic Initiative
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