A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Dele Shittu Foundation, has sponsored the mentorship of 27 youths across Nigeria in fields including business, medicine, entrepreneurship and climate protection.
The Chairman of Dele Group of Companies and promoter of the foundation, Dr. Lanre Shittu, disclosed this during the induction and workshop for selected beneficiaries of the foundation’s mentorship programme on Monday in Ilorin.
Shittu said the beneficiaries were selected from across the federation, with particular emphasis on women participation.
According to him, the initiative was designed to give young people hope while connecting them with mentors who have successfully navigated similar career paths.
“The idea is to make sure we continue to give people hope and to help them connect with other people who have passed through their journey,” he said.
He explained that mentors were expected to guide participants in business, skills acquisition and career development, enabling them to navigate their chosen paths more effectively.
Shittu added that the programme facilitated connections between the beneficiaries and internationally recognised scholars from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Nigeria. He noted that participants were exposed to extensive knowledge in business, entrepreneurship and innovation.
“The programme is a way of giving back to the community and imparting knowledge to talented youths to enable them make positive change,” he said.
While describing Nigeria as a country with immense potential, Shittu stressed the need for the government to prioritise policies that promote youth capacity building and human capital development for sustainable growth.
He assured that the foundation would continue to support and promote the aspirations and talents of Nigerian youths, noting that the current beneficiaries represent the first cohort of the mentorship programme.
“More cohorts of the programme will follow for other youths,” he added.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Muhammad Balogun, Resident Advisor, Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme, urged mentors to play positive and impactful roles in the lives of Nigerian youths.
Balogun described mentorship as a potential game-changer, noting that it provides guidance, support and valuable insights from experienced professionals.
“Mentorship helps young people navigate their careers and personal lives through networking, career development opportunities, confidence building and skill development,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Miss Emmanuella Fomto said the programme had improved their business acumen through the knowledge and enlightenment received.
She added that participants were also provided with funds to enable them put the knowledge acquired into practical use.
Another beneficiary, Miss Raheema Ahmed, said the selection process was based on specific criteria met by participants. She explained that the programme focused on professional development, noting that mentorship goes beyond imitation.
“Mentorship is not about copying the mentor, but about learning enough to do even more,” she said.