Empowering Young People Through Skills, Leadership and Enterprise.
Building practical skills, strengthening leadership capacity and helping young people see new possibilities for their future.
The Entrepreneurship/Leadership Conference 2024 was a two-day youth empowerment programme organised by the Young Leaders Initiative (YLI) at Good Shepherd School in Meiran, Lagos. The programme brought young people together for an engaging experience focused on entrepreneurship, leadership development, practical skills, personal growth and responsible citizenship.
The conference was built around a simple belief: young people need more than motivation. They need practical knowledge, useful skills, confidence and exposure to opportunities that can help them build meaningful, productive and sustainable lives.
Participants received hands-on exposure to practical skills that can support self-employment, entrepreneurship and income generation.
Young people were encouraged to embrace responsibility, discipline, confidence, resilience and positive influence.
Sessions encouraged participants to think creatively about business, opportunities and solving problems within their communities.
Participants explored health, personal development, civic responsibility and the importance of contributing positively to society.
Learning Skills That Can Create Opportunity
A major part of the conference was devoted to practical entrepreneurial training. Participants were introduced to hands-on skills that could serve as a foundation for self-employment, additional income or future business development.
The practical workshops covered Makeup and Gele Tying, Adire Making, Chapman Making, Barbecue and Asun Preparation, Content Creation, Printing and Branding, and Soap Making. Rather than limiting the programme to classroom discussions, these sessions helped participants see how everyday skills can be developed into useful services and viable small-business opportunities.
Developing the Leaders of Tomorrow
The programme placed strong emphasis on leadership development. Participants were encouraged to understand leadership not simply as holding a position or title, but as the ability to take responsibility, make positive decisions, influence others constructively and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Through leadership conversations and interactive sessions, young people were encouraged to develop greater confidence, discipline, resilience and a stronger sense of personal purpose.
Entrepreneurship and Business Awareness
Participants were exposed to conversations around business, entrepreneurship and economic independence. The sessions encouraged them to think creatively about opportunities around them, identify problems they could solve and understand how their skills and ideas could potentially become sustainable sources of income.
The goal was to help participants begin seeing themselves not only as job seekers, but also as potential creators, entrepreneurs, service providers and problem-solvers.
Civic Responsibility and Social Awareness
The conference also created room for discussions around political awareness, civic responsibility and positive social participation. Young people were encouraged to understand the importance of being informed, responsible and constructively involved in the development of their communities and society.
These conversations reinforced the idea that effective leadership involves both personal progress and a willingness to contribute to the wellbeing of others.
Health, Wellbeing and Personal Development
Recognising that sustainable success requires more than professional skills, the programme also incorporated health talks, personal-development conversations and interactive activities.
Participants were encouraged to pay attention to their wellbeing, personal choices, relationships and the habits that influence their long-term growth and development.
Learning Through Interaction
The conference was intentionally interactive. In addition to workshops and presentations, participants took part in games, group activities, conversations and practical exercises.
This created opportunities for participants to interact, build relationships and learn from one another while making the overall experience engaging and memorable.
Celebrating Participation and Growth
Participants who completed the programme were recognised with certificates of participation, acknowledging their commitment to learning and personal development.
The certificates represented more than attendance. They marked the completion of an experience designed to expand knowledge, confidence, practical capability and awareness of the possibilities available to young people.
Building Confidence for the Future
The Entrepreneurship/Leadership Conference 2024 ultimately created an opportunity for young people to learn practical skills, strengthen their confidence, develop leadership capacity, connect with others and gain knowledge that can support employment, entrepreneurship and meaningful participation in society.
For the Young Leaders Initiative, the programme reflected our wider commitment to helping young people move from potential to capability and from capability to opportunity.