Afere Lawrence
Nigeria
For me, IIGL is a world of possibilities. It transformed my mindset about what life and living is all about. After becoming a student of this great citadel of learning in 2005, I said to myself, “I will use what I learn here, and the opportunities it presents me, to transform my community in the South West Nigeria.”
I am a farmer. In the last five years, I have worked in the Youth and Enterprise Development Sector with focus on jobs and wealth creation for the unemployed and marginalized youth in Ondo State, South West Nigeria. Currently, I am the director and founder of Springboard Entrepreneurship Development Initiative, Akure, where I develop entrepreneurship, jobs & wealth creation and agricultural programs for unemployed youth. And where I also coordinate the production and marketing of plantain chips and other farm value addition products produced from the Springboard Farms.
In 2009, based on my innovative approach towards solving youth unemployment (using community-based organic farming and agribusiness) in Ondo State, I was nominated for a national youth award by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development in conjunction with Youngstars Foundation, Nigeria.
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Covenant University, Nigeria and am a trained Social Entrepreneur at the International Institute for Global Leadership, Ashville, USA, Kanthari International Institute for Social Entrepreneurs, India and Northwestern University, Illinois, USA.
In 2014, I was selected as one of the 500 Washington Fellows for Young African Leaders, a President Obama initiative to train young Africans in Business, Public and Civic sectors.
IIGL has imparted me with optimism and hope. I see a Nigeria, which the entire world is proud of, that is famous for heart-centered and prosperous young Farmers, Entrepreneurs and Leaders.