I THOUGHT I WAS JUST LISTENING. I DIDN’T KNOW I WAS NEXT. 🇳🇬🌍

Around December last year, if I remember correctly, I was sitting alone in my classroom at the University of Ilorin, listening to music on Spotify. Then I came across a podcast by the Knowles Educational and Charitable Trust for International Leadership (KECTIL) titled "Shocking Truths About Nigeria’s Kidnapping Industry,” hosted by Indian social entrepreneur, edtech founder and public speaker **Ashwathy Venugopal**. The conversation featured two young Nigerians—Malik Abubakar Mujeli from Kebbi State, an Economics graduate of Al Hikmah University, and Oludipe Taiwo Oyindamola, a political science graduate of Ekiti State University and a prominent youth advocate, leader, and content contributor. I didn't know either of them. I had never met them or spoken to them. I was just there in my classroom, listening to two young leaders talk about their country, the things happening around them, and the work they were doing. I remember listening and thinking,<blockquote>“Wow, these people are really doing something great”</blockquote> They were talking about insecurity, kidnapping, and banditry and how these things affect young people's education, businesses, families, safety, and everyday lives. What stayed with me was seeing young Nigerians take our stories into a global conversation on a podcast created by an organisation in the United States of America. 100 developing countries.Young people from different parts of the world.And Nigerians were there. 🇳🇬 I was listening from my classroom, alone at night.And I remember thinking about whoever would come after them the following year. I thought:<blockquote>“Whoever they choose next will have an even bigger story to tell.”</blockquote> I never thought it would be me. 😂 I went back to my own life.History...Writing.Advocacy, etc. Trying to figure things out.No strategy.No connection.Just showing up and doing what I could. Then, two days ago, an email arrived.I opened it.<img alt="" src="/media/inline_insight_image/1223.jpg"/><blockquote>“You have been selected for an interview for the 2026 Kectil *Born to Lead *Campaign.”</blockquote>HOW?I checked the email again. Then I remembered that podcast.I even went back to Spotify like<blockquote>"Wait, ooo… is this not the same...😂😭</blockquote> And suddenly it hit me.The same platform.The same country.The same flag.But this time, I was being invited into the conversation. There is something that makes this even more special to me.This year, Kectil is celebrating its 10th anniversary.The same organisation whose podcast I was listening to in a classroom in Ilorin last year is now giving me an opportunity to be part of its Born to Lead conversation in its 10th anniversary year. In the next few days, I’ll be having a conversation with Mr. Hein Htet Oo (Ray), Deputy Country Director of the USA for the Global Youth Parliament and Campaign Lead for KECTIL. I’ll be sharing my journey, the work I’ve been doing, and some of the realities, dreams, and possibilities I see among young people in Nigeria. By then, there will be a video of me travelling from a classroom in Ilorin to a global conversation with young people across developing countries. But honestly, this post isn't really about me getting an invitation.It is about the young person who is currently where I was. Watching.Learning.Trying and wondering when their own opportunity will come. If that is you, please keep going.And please learn to be happy when someone around you moves forward. Support people.Learn from people.Work with people.Celebrate people. You don't lose your own chance because somebody else got theirs first.I was listening to my leaders: Malik and Taiwo.I admired what they were doing and I'm proud of them.I learned from them without even knowing them.And today, I have the opportunity to continue from where people like them left off. That is what makes this special to me.Because there are so many young Nigerians with stories.Young people with ideas.Young people solving problems quietly.Young people who need opportunities, resources, platforms, mentors, sponsors—I need them too please 😢🙏🏽, and most importantly, people willing to listen. I want to keep finding ways to share those stories.So if you are a young person reading this, I would love to hear from you.What are you working on?What problem are you trying to solve?What are you struggling with?What kind of support would make a difference for you?What story do you wish more people would hear? Let's keep sharing.Because I am still learning too.I am still finding my way.I am still looking for more ways to contribute.I am still showing up. And maybe that is the real lesson.You don't have to have everything figured out before you begin.You don't have to know exactly where the road is taking you.You just have to keep moving.One step at a time. Last year, I was sitting in a classroom listening to someone else's story.I remember wondering:“Who will be next?”I didn't know I was quietly preparing to become part of the next chapter. To Malik and Taiwo:Thank you for carrying the Nigerian flag before I ever imagined carrying it. 🇳🇬 And to other young Nigerian still trying to find their way:I see you.Keep learning.Keep helping.Keep creating.Keep showing up. Your story may be further along than you think.Alhamdulillah. 🤲🏽This is only the beginning.See you at the top 🚀🇳🇬🙏 P.S. Don't forget to tip me for Sunday. 😂🙏🏽 I added a short clip from the interview here. If you want to hear the full conversation that I listened to back then, it's on Spotify:👉🏽 <a class="tc-blue external-link external-link external-link external-link external-link external-link" href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/6j4qLixRLF3271fOZ5H1WG" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">open.spotify.com/episode/6j4qLixRLF32... </a>Go listen to Malik and Taiwo. You never know what one conversation might leave with you. ❤️🇳🇬

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