PROJECT_INSPIRE: Can we meet you?
Julius: My name is Julius Ilori.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Tell us about your childhood?
Julius: I grew up in Ajegunle in Lagos State. Ajegunle is a place where most people will refer to as a ghetto but growing up under such circumstances ignited in me the passion for problem solving. I grew up as a church boy. My dad was a pastor during his time on earth and we lived in a mission house. I am the second of six children.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What is your educational background like?
Julius: I had my primary school education at Joy of Knowledge Private School,Apapa Lagos State. My secondary education was started and completed at Brigg Gate Comprehensive College. I studied Business Administration & Management at Yaba College of Technology(YABATECH).
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What are your contributions towards making Nigeria a better place?
Julius: In 2017, I started Save Africa’s Future Leaders Initiative (SAF Leaders Initiative), a non-profit organization working to promote SDGs Goal 4. Our goal is to help young people in rural communities’ access quality education. We are also working to solve the problem of substance abuse among young people.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What motivated you into doing what you are doing?
Julius: The desire to solve the problem of education was born out of the desire to create for the next generation a better community than what I
had while growing up.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What has been your achievements?
Julius: During the Covid-19 pandemic, we launched the Continuous E-learning Platform for students in rural areas who couldn’t afford online education. Over 2000 students have benefitted from this platform. We also developed a training curriculum for teachers during the pandemic to help them navigate the uncertainties and changes ushered in by the pandemic. We have trained 150 teachers with our curriculum. We also distributed food palliatives to 350 teachers in collaboration with Food Click.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What has been your major challenge since you began your non-profit organization?
Julius: Funding has been a challenge. Even though funding is not the only thing needed to create impact, without it implementation of projects and their reach is limited. Another issue I had to deal with was convincing friends and families that what I am doing is worthwhile.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Many young people have great ideas but the finances are always a stumbling block, what will your advice be in this regard?
Julius: Once you have an idea, you have to make sure it is sellable. Do feasibility study around that idea. If you are not sure of your idea, it will be difficult for you to convince others to support your idea. Make use of your network. You can have an idea and it will die because you are in the wrong network. Connect with the right people, that may be all that may be needed for your idea to fly.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: How have you been able to raise money for your projects?
Julius: I usually call for donation among friends. I also seek for collaboration where necessary. I do part time jobs and from the pay I get, I support our projects.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Could you share with us one or two experience(s) you have had in the course of your campaign that has impacted on you?
Julius: One of the most remarkable experience I have had in the course of my journey was after launching the Continuous E-learning Platform. I got a call from Channels TV one evening telling me that they would be coming to my office the next morning for an interview about the work I was doing through the Continuous E-learning Platform. I was shocked because I didn’t have an office in the first place. I explained that to them and they said it was ok and that they wouldn’t mind coming to my house where I work from. The next morning, they were at my house with their vehicle and recording equipment to the shock of my neighbors who were wondering what crime I have committed. The sitting room was arranged and the interview was conducted. Since then, my work has continued to gain visibility home and abroad. Currently, I am working on a project with the Staley School of Leadership, California.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What are your prospects for the next 5- 10 years?
Julius: Our goal is to transform education in Africa and expand our reach to cover the entire continent. From Nigeria we are moving to Ghana and Liberia. We want to enable every learner learn at his/ her pace.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Final words to the Nigerian youth.
Julius : Let's commit to thinking about not just solutions but sustainable solutions. We need to rise to the challenge of developing interventions that will truly impact lives.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: It has been a great time with you.
Julius : the pleasure is mine.
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