Lagos: Junior Chamber International Nigeria (JCI), a youth network of enterprising leaders, has unveiled a roadmap for 2025, aimed at building a thriving ecosystem for youths between 18 and 40 years old. JCI Nigeria President, Oluwatoyin Atanda, made this known at a news conference on Saturday in Lagos to herald the beginning of her administration.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Atanda said her administration’s roadmap was to enhance JCI’s impact in Nigeria, foster collaboration, and build a sustainable future for its members and communities. She stated that each flagship project would have a dedicated team responsible for planning, execution, and evaluation with performance metrics to ensure transparency and accountability. The JCI president added that feedback from members and stakeholders would be actively sought to continuously monitor, evaluate, improve, and refine the projects and ensure that they all deliver on their mandate.
Speaking on the agenda tagged ‘ELV8’, Atanda explained that the flagship project would elevate JCI Nigeria’s mission to create a lasting and meaningful impact on its members, communities, and society at large. ‘The eight project pillars of the ELV8 agenda include the Ten Outstanding Young Person Programme (TOYP), Creative Young Entrepreneur (CPE), training institute, conferences. It will also focus on partnerships, memberships, brand and communications, and the completion of the national secretariat. By focusing on these strategic initiatives, JCI Nigeria will lead the way in sustainable, inclusive, and impactful leadership,’ she said.
In her remarks, Chairperson, JCI Nigeria TOYP, Yetunde Oyeyipo, announced that nominations for the 2025 edition of the award had opened in December 2024 and would close by February. Oyeyipo urged Nigerians to nominate qualified and eligible young Nigerians for the award via the JCI Nigeria website. She mentioned that nominations would be reviewed and evaluated by a panel of judges to select the top 30 nominees and confirmed by the audit partners by March.
She further explained that the ten categories are business, economic and entrepreneur accomplishment; political, legal and governmental affairs; academic leadership and accomplishment. Others included cultural achievement; moral and environmental leadership; contribution to children/world peace and human rights. The remaining categories are humanitarian and voluntary leadership, scientific and technological development; personal improvement and accomplishment and medical innovation.
Oyeyipo stated that the TOYP Nigeria winners would also have the opportunity to compete on the global stage with other top 10 of over 50 countries where JCI was present. She noted that seven Nigerians had been privileged to be honoured at the global stage, including Ray Ekpu (1988), Dr Modupe Osho (1996), Dr Ola Orekunrin (2013), Imrana Buba (2017), Adepeju Opeyemi Jaiyeoba (2017), Jacinta Uramah (2018), and Temie Giwa-Tubosun (2021).
‘The TOYP is a prestigious award organised by JCI to recognise young individuals between the ages of 18 and 40 who have made significant contributions and shown exceptional leadership skills. These individuals exemplify the spirit of the JCI mission and serve as stellar examples of entrepreneurial spirit and ethical leadership. Whether through business, scientific endeavours, or their impact on society, these young, active citizens turn challenges into opportunities on a local and national level,’ she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that past recipients of the national awards include Ibukun Awosika, Gbenga Sesan, Kanu Nwankwo, and Rotimi Amechi. Others are Richard Mofe Damijo, Femi Anikulapo-Kuti, Kafayat Shafau, Linda Ikeji, Japheth Omojuwa and Adebowale Adedayo.