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but the core vision of any project or event. Ever since, I’ve believed in our collective responsibility
to take responsibility for the outcomes we hope to see, the impact that manifests as the improvement in the quality of
life for every member of a given community, a strengthening of our systems, sectors, nation, and the world as a global community.
This passion and commitment to social development did not take a back seat while I served as a National Youth Service Corps member. I engaged in various developmental projects while serving in a bank in Lagos State, Nigeria.
On one of my trips across
the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State, I noticed a large community afloat the waters. What was more interesting was the number of children I saw fishing and playing by the water at a supposed school hour. I couldn’t properly process the reason(s) for this reality, so,
I made a decision to visit the community more often, and I did.
On getting to the Makoko community, there were hundreds of happy children swarming around me, some selling items, mostly playing around. It was a bittersweet experience seeing their joy and knowing that they had every right to more, to better, to quality education that fanned the flame of hope I saw in their eyes.
For weeks, I experienced great unrest because of that visit to the community. I understood
I had a well paying job as a corps member, I had several prospects before me but none screamed as loud as the urgent need to ensure that these children got access to quality education, health care, and a loving community
the realities the children in these communities faced being an underserved community.
I also understood the danger which was going to prevail if
we didn’t take urgent action to ensure that these brilliant minds were not shaped solely by their background or circumstances, but through a more wholesome, inclusive, learning process.
I had a well paying job as a corps member, I had several prospects before me but none screamed as loud as the urgent need to ensure that these children got access to quality education, health care, and a loving community.
After going through several reevaluations of my convictions, speaking to trusted family
and friends who didn’t all
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