Why I Went Back To The Grassroot

This all started in 2013; my brother and friend, Adedayo called me to lead as a youth president. In Nigeria, almost all the streets have a youth president, a role that is quite unofficial and not influential at its level. I was young, broke and unachieved. Yes, you don't need any of these to lead but I have always believed that to lead, you need a level of influence.

But because of the size of the work I wanted to do in my community, I decided to fix myself first. I wanted a level of achievements, success and also wanted to repair myself so that I am pouring back excellence and not brokenness.

It takes courage to go back to your root and pour out yourself to the community that raised you.

I decided to build a great life outside there so that I am pouring out greatness into people in my community and not thuggery. I want to build thousands of young people who will achieve greatness and not just failed minds.

I worked so hard and pursued excellence. First, I built a private consulting, PM Hub and then built one of the largest Education Technology companies, Utiva. Took the journey from there, I toured the world and explored international and local opportunities.

Within the space of 10 years, I moved from just being the tiny little boy in the ghetto of Ifako to a Carrington Fellow, Atlas Corps Fellow, Chevening Scholar, Facebook Community Fellow, Product Manager in company based in Washington DC, an Entrepreneur who leads a million dollar company to 19 global and local awards among other achievements.

I moved from a frustrated young Ifako Ijaye boy to a globally relevant young chap.

I learned 3 key lessons on my way here and these are the values I am bringing back to raise the next generation of young people.

We can't raise morally bankrupt young people. The definition of success is rotten! I see thousand of young people who do not want to do the work. Infact, some 10 years ago, people actually thought that being legit isn't valuable. But I set out to prove many people wrong and my mission is to raise young people who are enterprising, smart and winning at the global level.

I wan't to raise youths who will follow their passion, build things and be locally relevant. I know its hard but my message to my mentees always is this- 'Keep building and learning; you will succeed.' I am that young man who has inspired millions of people to take action and I have no single regret.

I will not raise losers! I will not raise failures! I am a brand that is telling other young people that if a young man like me can come of the trenches, then its possible for others to build a great life without becoming a hoodlum in the process.