- Launches RAISE Initiative, Expands Scholarship Programme
The Wilson and Yinka Badejo Foundation (WYBF) has unveiled an ambitious strategy to raise responsible next-generation leaders, expand its scholarship programme and deepen youth participation in nation-building.
The foundation disclosed this during its fifth anniversary memorial lecture held at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), stressing the need for greater collaboration between young Nigerians, government, private-sector leaders, non-governmental foundations and other institutions to transform ideas into measurable national development.
In the keynote address, leadership expert and public policy advisor Debola Deji-Kurumi declared that the future of Nigeria will not be secured by government alone, insisting that the country’s greatest hope lies in citizens who are ready to take responsibility for national transformation rather than remain trapped in hopelessness.
Deji-Kurumi challenged Nigerians to abandon the culture of blame and embrace what she described as “agency” in rebuilding the nation.
According to her, Nigeria’s transformation will only begin when citizens stop waiting for political leaders to solve every problem and instead recognize their own role as drivers of change.
She argued that many Nigerians have conditioned themselves to believe that every solution must come from the Presidency or government institutions, warning that such thinking has only deepened national helplessness.
“We must transition from perceiving the President as the source of our woes and government as the trigger for every change we anticipate, to a place where we heal from helplessness. Citizens are critical contributors to nation building,” she said.
Deji-Kurumi stressed that while the country desperately needs change, urgency alone would not produce results without deliberate action from individuals.
“There is not merely a desire for change. There is an urgency for change. But your urgency requires agency. The bridge that moves a people from helplessness and hopelessness into national pride and purpose is when we add agency to our urgency.”
She repeatedly challenged participants to replace complaints with personal responsibility.
“Urgency says something needs to be done. Agency says I can do something about it,” she said.
Drawing from her public policy engagements across nearly 20 African countries, she said nations that transformed themselves did so after citizens embraced responsibility instead of victimhood.
She cited countries such as Rwanda and Kenya as examples where a shift in citizens’ mindset helped accelerate national development.
‘Stop Seeing Nigeria As A Failed Project’
The leadership coach lamented what she described as the growing loss of national optimism, saying many Nigerians now see the country only through the lens of failure.
She maintained that despite Nigeria’s challenges, thousands of individuals, organisations and institutions are already making meaningful contributions across education, healthcare, governance, media, technology and entrepreneurship.
“There are people across healthcare, education, governance, family life, entertainment and the economy who have taken the burden of leadership, vision and execution. We can no longer continue to curse the failure of a nation whose future we have not converted.”
According to her, Nigerians must deliberately celebrate and emulate such change-makers rather than focus exclusively on failures.
Debunks ‘Japa’ Mentality
Speaking on the increasing wave of migration popularly known as “Japa,” Deji-Kurumi said leaving Nigeria should never amount to abandoning responsibility for the country’s future.
Instead, she urged Nigerians relocating abroad to see themselves as ambassadors and contributors rather than escapees.
“Instead of exiting like you are running, exit like you are sent.”
She encouraged Nigerians abroad to acquire global knowledge and continue investing in Nigeria through mentorship, philanthropy, partnerships and expertise.
“Go and learn the advanced protocols of systems that work so that you can return as contributors. Even if you never return physically, remain a Nigerian in diaspora contributing to national development.”
Character, Not Social Media Image
A major highlight of her lecture was a strong call for character-driven leadership.
She warned young Nigerians against chasing social media validation while neglecting integrity, discipline and moral excellence.
“Character is the bedrock of meaningful development. There is a pseudo-satisfaction today where people would rather appear successful than truly become successful.”
According to her, integrity, discipline, humility, accountability and strong work ethics remain indispensable to sustainable national development.
Deji-Kurumi also raised concerns over Africa’s ranking on global human capital indices, warning that intelligence alone is no longer enough
She argued that many talented Africans fail to translate knowledge into productivity.
“Patriotism requires proficiency.”
Ending her lecture on a note of optimism, Deji-Kurumi declared that Nigeria’s destiny would ultimately be shaped by citizens willing to become builders instead of spectators.
“What can Nigeria do for you? We have asked that question enough. It is time to ask: What can I do for Nigeria?”
Speaking on the plan for the foundation’s growth and sustenance, Mr Femi Badejo, its Vice Chairman disclosed plans to expand its scholarship programme and seek stronger financial partnerships with individuals, corporate organisations and other institutions.
He disclosed that the desired expansion would require increased funding and strategic partnerships capable of supporting beneficiaries throughout their education.
One of the initiatives highlighted was the “Raise” initiative. RAISE is the Wilson & Yinka Badejo Foundation’s Adopt-a-Student initiative through which sponsors could directly support students over a specified period.
He disclosed that the the model would allow sponsors to commit to funding individual students rather than relying exclusively on direct donations to the organisation.
Oyinkansola Adebayo emerged as the inaugural recipient of the WYBF RAISE
She is a student of Olabisi Onabanjo Universit studying Forensic Science, in her 300 Level with a 4.68 CGPA.
Oyinkansola desire to pursue a career in forensic pathology was driven by a deeply personal experience, with a singular mission to help victims of sexual assault obtain justice through science. Oyinkansola is being sponsored by ShepherdHill Security Limited.
He also disclosed plans to revive relationships with corporate organisations that had historically supported the foundation.
Badejo said some major organisations had previously supported its activities but that changing circumstances had affected the continuity of some partnerships.
He therefore expressed its intention to reignite those relationships and forge new collaborations with blue-chip companies and other major institutions.
Badejo also called on the Nigerian government to support organisations working to address the country’s developmental challenges.
“Nigeria’s rebuilding process requires people and institutions capable of translating ideas into action.
“If the federal government, for example, can invest in organisations that are building, then we have a better shot of being able to accomplish all the things that we have on our aggressive agenda,” he said.
As the foundation crossed the first half of a decade of its existence, its Chairman, Rev Adedimeji Adegbesan said its ambition goes far beyond surviving the next decade.
He disclosed that the foundation was being structured as a perpetual institution capable of outliving its current founders and leadership.
He said the expectation was for the foundation to become a perpetual entity that would continue to advance its mission long after the current leadership had left.
The anniversary therefore marked not merely five years of existence, but what the foundation described as the beginning of a broader and more ambitious mission to build a sustainable pipeline of educated, responsible and socially conscious Nigerian leaders.
Earlier in his welcome address, the General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Rev. Dr Sam Aboyeji, described the memorial lecture as more than an anniversary event, saying it was a celebration of enduring legacies built on service, purpose and godly leadership.
Quoting Psalm 112:6, Aboyeji said the late Rev. Dr Wilson Badejo and his wife, Rev. Mrs Yinka Badejo, belonged to the company of the righteous whose memories would remain forever because of their impact on humanity.
He also praised the late Rev. Mrs Yinka Badejo, describing her as a compassionate minister, church planter, counsellor and former National President of the Pastors’ Wives and Lady Ministers’ Fellowship.
e paid glowing tribute to the late Wilson Badejo, describing him as a visionary leader, movement builder, mentor, gifted Bible teacher, church planter and kingdom strategist whose influence extended beyond the Foursquare Gospel Church.
Aboyeji noted that the Wilson and Yinka Badejo Foundation, established 19 years ago, has sustained the couple’s vision through scholarships, youth rehabilitation, community development projects and other initiatives aimed at restoring hope to the less privileged.
Speaking on the lecture’s theme, he said Nigeria’s greatest challenge was not the absence of natural or human resources but the shortage of ethical leadership.
“Nigeria does not merely need another generation of intelligent people. We have them in abundance. What we need are responsible people. Competence without character is a disaster waiting to happen. Knowledge without integrity becomes manipulation, while power without values destroys nations,” he said.
