Project Inspire Africa

With academic activities halted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, innovation became the new normal. Nigerian youths like Julius Ilori rose up to challenge of creating new solutions. In this interview with Project-Inspire,Julius Ilori provides insights into the work he is doing to improve access to quality education in Africa and the impact it has yielded. 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 Lag...

As country director of Global Youth Network in Benin Republic, Sossou Yao Amevi Amessinou has built a team of over 500volunteers in the nation with each undertaking projects aimed at responding to social issues. In this interview with Project Inspire Africa, Sossou speaks about the progress made so far. Can we meet you? I am Sossou Yao Amevi Amessinou, a 33-years-old citizen of  Benin Republic. I look reading and surfing the internet. Tell us briefly your childhood experience . I was born in Cote d’Ivoire into a family of 10. I have five sisters and four brothers. My parents did their best to give a good life. I grew up in an environment of warmth. I was the typical good boy who respected elders and gave a helping hand. My mother taught me how to do. She housed our relatives (my cousins) and cared for them as though they were her biological children. It was until I was 20 that I realized that my cousins had different parents. What’s your educational background? After my common entr...

With over sixty-one thousand four hundred and ninety-two children on the streets of Accra only struggling to make ends meet,streetism has become a major social crisis in Ghana. In this interview with Project Inspire Africa,Isaac Opoku tells us how his non-profit organization responding to this challenge . Can we meet you?   I am Isaac Opoku, a- 27 year-old Ghanaian citizen. I love swimming and travelling.    Tell us briefly your childhood experience .  I was raised by a single mother. As a child,I remember that I was always on the street with my friends finding a means of survival. God has been good, today I have completed my university education and I am using my experience to inspire street children in my community. What’s your educational background?  I am a graduate of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Design and majored in Advertising and Media Management.    What are your contrib...

While it is correct to say that education is a right,in Nigeria that right for some children either don’t exist,is poorly available or unaffordable. However, Grace Ahudiya is making sure that this doesn’t become the reality of the children around her community. Through Isrina Schools,she is providing quality education to children from low-income families. In this conversation with Project Inspire, Grace tells us how the journey started . PROJECT_INSPIRE : Can we meet you?   Grace :My name is Amuzie Grace Ahudiya. I’m 20 years old and a final year Economics student of Crawford University. I am also an educator, and aspiring chef (Grace’s Kitchen). PROJECT_INSPIRE : Tell us briefly your childhood experience.   Grace : I was born and still live in Ajegunle. Life as a child was a bit rocky but I have my family and kind sponsor to thank. Most of my childhood days were spent indoors with my family.   PROJECT_INSPIRE :What’s your educational background?   Grace :I am ...

The year 2020 has not been without challenges. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of physical activities were constrained. We started the year by continuing with our online project which is Project Inspire that we started in 2019. Project Inspire ran from January to December,2020. We interviewed 12 change makers who have collectively impacted 41,891 lives.  In June,2020 we began a one-month online awareness campaign on Learning Disabilities. We created animation videos educating the public about the signs of learning disabilities and ways parents can help their children improve in this regard. In July,we expanded the scope of Project Inspire to include Project Inspire Africa where we began to focus on collecting stories aside Nigeria. We interviewed social innovators from Zambia,Congo, Sierra Leone, Malawi,Kenya and Liberia. As a way of building on Project Inspire Africa,we introduced Africa Development Series a Learning Platform that brings together Non-profit Leaders to ...

12 Changemakers | 12 NGOs | 12 Amazing Stories | 41,891 Lives Impacted MAUREEN Ogechi Alikor Founder,Demystify Abuse Campaign This organization helps survivors of sexual abuse heal,recover and purposeful reintegrate into the society. STANLEY Onah Chukwuemeka Executive Director,Standing With Stanley(SWS)  Foundation SWS Foundation runs a free private school for indigent children, and advocates against cultism and other forms of anti-social activities among students of secondary schools and tertiary institutions. BARBARA Madu Co-founder, The VVF INITIATIVE The VVF Initiative is a women's health advocacy group that creates awareness around Vesico Vaginal Fistula. ADAMU Bashiru Oyakhilome Founder,Dream Again Prison and Youth Foundation This nonprofit organization is involved in equipping prisons with libraries ,training inmates with vocational skills and helping them to integrate back into the society when they leave prison. OYEBIMPE Olofin Arowosebe ECIAS Foundation Every Child Is A S...

When failure was no longer an option, Valentine Okafor decided to do the one thing that was difficult for him to do - reading. Today, through The Val Okafor Company, he is helping thousands of young people build leadership competence and increase their productivity as a means of achieving poverty reduction. He spoke with Project-Inspire this month on how his journey has been.  PROJECT_INSPIRE : Can we meet you? Valentine :  Valentine Tobechukwu Okafor is my name. I am 26 years old and from Imo State Nigeria.     PROJECT_INSPIRE :Tell us about your childhood?   Valentine :  I used to be a very shy person when I was younger. I had many aspirations including the desire to become a medical doctor. I just loved to switch professions that tickled my fancy. It is so funny that as a child, I loved to do amazing things but couldn’t do them because of timidity. I wasn’t a very bright student as I was always behind others. I remember the time I came 14th out...

Having spent his childhood in a rural community with little no or opportunities, Foeday Zinnah decided to create a different experience for youths growing up in rural areas in Liberia. In this interview with Project Inspire Africa, Foeday talks about what he doing and the change it has brought. Can we meet you?   My name is Foeday Zinnah,a 27 years old Liberian citizen. My hobbies includes listening to music, observing nature, and meeting new friends.  I am a Christian, a Seventh Day Adventist by faith,a husband and father.My hobbies include listening to music, observing nature and meeting new friends. Tell us briefly about your childhood experience. I grow up at a refugee kid in Guinea due to the civil war in Liberia.I am the first child in my family and I have four little sisters (Krubo, Pauline, Musu, and Godsay). My parents have been married for over 28 years and they are very young in appearance. I love them and always get inspired by their lifestyles. I didn't have the ‘...

Award-winning climate activist Patricia Kombo has continued to advocate for environmental preservation and poverty alleviation. As founder of PaTree Initiative,she has planted 10,000 trees and encouraged hundreds of women to embrace kitchen gardening. In this interview with Project Inspire Africa, Patricia talks about how the journey has been. Can we meet you? I am Patricia Kombo,a 24 years old citizen of the Republic of Kenya. My hobbies are adventure, travelling and farming. Tell us briefly your childhood experience. I grew up in a village setting and was introduced to farming at a tender age and I became very interested in nature and soil. We grew, ate our food and played in the forest. What's your educational background? I am a final year student of Moi University,Kenya pursuing a degree in communication and journalism. I had my primary and secondary school education at Utangwa Primary School and Chogoria Girl's High School. What are your contributions towards making your c...