PROJECT_INSPIRE: Can we meet you?
Adek: My name is Adek Anthony Bassey, a 28-years-old female from Cross River State, Ikom LGA, Nigeria.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Tell us briefly your childhood experience
Adek: I had an interesting childhood. I was the only child for 9 years and I enjoyed all the love, pampering and attention that was available in the family. Even though I was loved, I wanted to be a male child if I had my way because of how I saw the society place less value on a female child. I also had my share of struggles but I am still here.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What’s your educational background?
Adek: My parents placed premium on education irrespective of our financial status. I attended Aunty Ramatu College Katsina for my primary and secondary school. I also hold a National Diploma/Higher National Diploma in Environmental Health from the College of Health Technology, Calabar and a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Calabar.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What are your contributions towards making Nigeria a better place?
Adek: I run a youth-led/youth-serving not-profit, non-governmental organization established in 2016 called Today for Tomorrow (TFT) with the objective of helping young people make informed decisions by providing them with accurate information to do so. To enable me achieve this goal at a larger scale, I shared the vision with five like-minded youths like myself namely: Christian Andrew Chinedu, Lovina Ronami, Pere kenedy Brisibe and Oscar Bill. Together we forged a team and within one year, we built a volunteer network of over 150 young people driving positive change in Cross River, Adamawa and Akwa-Ibom.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What motivated you to do what you are doing?
Adek: As a young person growing up, I was always scared of making bad choices and the desire of not wanting other young people to have the same experience inspired me to begin the work I am doing.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What have your achievements been?
Adek: Over the period of our existence, we have implemented over six projects namely:
Project TSK (Transform 100 Street Kids): Over 200 street kids were provided with vocational and life skills training. Six of the children were supported on the program for the completion of secondary education, while five were reunited with their families.
EDUPAD: In 2020, the TFT team drew some innovative interventions built around the existing problem of lack of knowledge on menstrual hygiene management and practice and distributed 3,600 disposable sanitary pads and 50 menstrual cups supported by Promise and Organic Cup Nigeria Product.
PROJECT BIS (Build in Schools) Circle 1: On this project,800 young people were trained on basic life skills, SRHR and GBV in two secondary schools in Yola North LGA and one higher institution in Yola South.
YSS (Youth Safe Space): Since the inception, we have had over 500 adolescents and young people visit the safe space for Sexual reproductive health and rights, GBV, training, counselling and assessing services. We have conducted personal development trainings on life skills, digital skills and soft skills as well as received SGBV reports and conducted referral services to other GBV service providers. This is the only functional adolescents and youth friendly center in Adamawa State where young people freely access information and services including counselling and capacity building programs
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What has been your major challenge since you began your non-profit organization?
Adek: Like most nonprofit organizations, funding has been a challenge as well as getting an enabling supportive environment to implement our project ideas.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Could you please share with us one or two experience(s) you have had in the course of your campaign that has/have impacted on you?
Adek: The first experience was when a woman who is passionate about young people growth Madam Grace Ibor saw my hidden potentials and gave me the opportunity to grow. It was in the course of this relationship that I had the opportunity to mobilize 5,000 young people from the higher institution to conduct HIV test. I was a delight to see that I was becoming a relevant voice in my generation. My social entrepreneurial journey has also given me the opportunity to be accepted into several fellowship like Women Deliver, Margret Ekpo Fellowship, COMITAS fellowship amongst others has really impacted my life. I had my first international travel trip to Geneva through the Global Shapers Hub I belong to.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Many young people have great ideas, but lack of funds is always a stumbling block. What’s your advice in this regard?
Adek: My advice is never give up. Keep trying; collaborate, build partnerships and have a team that can give in their best and all to make all your objectives achieved. I remember that in the early days of this journey, some of us sold our personal belongings like laptops, fridges and turned to beggars of 500, and 1000 Naira just to get our work done. Continue working, the world is watching and one-day help will come.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: How have you been able to raise money for your projects?
Adek: Personal donations from our volunteers, private individuals and partnerships.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What are your prospects in the next 5 or 10 years?
Adek: Well, my prospect for the next 5-10 years will be to develop the potentials of so many young people across the remaining 34 States in Nigeria. I want to build young change agents and problem solution innovators across the country leaving no one interested behind.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: The final word for the Nigerian youth.
Adek: I believe in you and many believe in you as well; believe in yourself and together we CAN!
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Thank you for sharing your story with us and we do pray that many will be inspired as they read.
Adek: My pleasure!
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