AYM Symposium, Nigeria Chapter 2023 Live Event
The physical Symposium for the Nigeria Chapter was held at Impact Hub, Ikoyi, Lagos, on the 21st October 2023. The theme for the event was: Building young Leaders: Technological and Entrepreneurial skills for the advancement of the African Region. The diverse category of audience at this event includes secondary schools; CMS grammar school and Down College, Lekki, Undergraduates, early and mid career professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders in the political field.
The welcome address given by the visionary founder of PYDI and pioneer of this project Miss Esther Ajudeonu revalidated the commitment of the organisation in providing opportunities for young people to aid the development of the African continent. She further unveiled the long-term plan for the symposium event by announcing that this event will happen yearly, also welcoming partnerships for the event next year.
In conclusion she charged everyone present in the room to take charge and begin to solve the challenges the find around their local communities. The keynote speech given by Dr Yvonne Chioma Ofodile, CEO Zetile Oil and Gas, highlighted key tools that will aid the advancement of the African Region which are; Investment in Education, Youth Empowerment, Gender equality, Mentorship, personal development, and Culture preservation by the future generation.
The event further featured panel sessions on Leadership, Entrepreneurship and Innovation respectively. Mrs Scholarstica Nneka Oyeniyi-Abass who currently serves as the Senior Special Assistant, Special Duties, to the Governor of Lagos State graced the event as the speaker during the Leadership panel session. She generously shared her wealth of knowledge in the political field, also sharing her journey into politics. In her words: “if you don’t have a position, you can also lead you don’t need to have a position before you can lead. A good leader must know how to be tough, humble, kind, and defensive.”
The second panel had speakers from various industries, ESV Chidinma Nwaka- GM Affable homes, Zigwai Fanda- CEO Lady Bamboo, Ayoola Gbade-Bello, CEO Bedouin, Abigail Jefia, Consulting Engineer CISCO, who spoke on the need for youth to be innovative and seek ways to become entrepreneurs, emphasized on the need to be consistent and build the right networking skills and to be more knowledgeable in whatever field you are.
