Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment (S.M.I.L.E)•Articles by: S.M.I.L.E

Author: S.M.I.L.E

S.M.I.L.E YOUTH LOUNGE

EPISODE 4: Imposter Syndrome: The Real Reason You Don’t Feel Good Enough and How to Fix It
In this episode of S.M.I.L.E Youth Lounge, our host Ruth Abimbola sits down with psychotherapist and creative, Paula B. Martins, to unpack the realities of self-doubt, comparison, imposter syndrome, and the quiet lies we often tell ourselves.
Together, they share personal stories about rejection, redirection, and the art of pivoting when life doesn’t go as planned—revealing how setbacks can become setups for growth, clarity, and confidence.
If you’ve ever been rejected or felt “not good enough,” this episode is for you. 💛
👉 Hit play, and don’t forget to drop your answer to the fun brain teaser and the Fact or Fear game you don’t want to miss!
🔔 Watch, subscribe, and share with a friend who needs this!

End-of-Year Reflections: Celebrating Peer Mentoring Impact in 2025

S.M.I.L.E’s Young Leaders Mentoring Program (YLMP) is one of our flagship initiatives, purposefully designed to equip public secondary school students with the skills, knowledge, mindset, and leadership capacity required to excel academically and achieve their life goals.
Over the course of four impactful weeks, 40 Change Champions across eight public secondary schools were trained on transformational topics including time management, vision and mission development, public speaking, academic excellence, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), comportment and etiquette, and more.
Following the intensive classroom sessions, we were delighted to see these young leaders—through a structured peer mentoring approach and with guidance from S.M.I.L.E youth mentors and school counselors—embark on a seven-week fieldwork exercise. During this phase, they delivered hands-on training and knowledge-sharing sessions to their peers within their respective schools.
This peer mentoring phase was intentionally designed to broaden the mindset of both the Change Champions and their peers, deepen their understanding of the topics taught, and strengthen essential skills such as communication, teaching, presentation, and peer leadership. We are pleased to share that 158 secondary school students benefited from this phase of the program.
Most importantly, the initiative nurtured a new generation of young leaders who are empowered to guide, influence, and inspire others.
At S.M.I.L.E, we remain committed to developing confident, values-driven young people who lead with purpose and create lasting impact within their schools and communities.
Our profound appreciation goes to our amazing partners for their unwavering support.

THROWBACK 2025: END-OF-YEAR GRATITUDE

Grateful to Folham Nigeria Limited for Lighting up our Mission💡
We are deeply grateful to Folham Nigeria Limited for generously supporting S.M.I.L.E with strategic outdoor publicity through the installation of LED billboards, and lamp poles across key locations in Lagos.
This meaningful support amplifies our mission, helps us reach more communities, and ensures that our impact and the opportunities we provide for young people are seen, known, and accessible.
Thank you for significantly increasing the visibility and awareness of our youth empowerment and leadership development initiatives.
Together, we are illuminating pathways to leadership, purpose, and a brighter future for our youth.
Your partnership reflects a commitment not only to visibility, but to meaningful and lasting social impact. We truly appreciate you.

IMPACT WEDNESDAY: S.M.I.L.E Supports the First-Ever TEDx Mowe Event

Meet Gbenga Adebayo, a dedicated changemaker, a proud alumnus of S.M.I.L.E’s 2016 Young Leaders Mentoring Program (YLMP) and the 2021 Executive Mentoring Program for Youth (EMPY), and currently an active member of the S.M.I.L.E Team. Driven by passion and purpose, he got the license to organize the first-ever TEDx Mowe event, a platform designed to amplify ideas, inspire leaders, and spark meaningful conversations within the community.
TEDxMowe 2025 had an incredible lineup of visionary speakers such as Mr Idy Enang, Chude Jideonwo, Olawale Bamidele, Caleb Faletti, Barr Labake Adetunmbi and a host of others who are redefining what’s possible across leadership, innovation, enterprise, media, technology, creativity, and nation-building.
From global thought leaders to homegrown changemakers, each speaker is stepping onto the red dot with one mission: To share ideas capable of re-engineering the future from right here in Mowe.
In alignment with our mission of supporting young leaders and empowering them to bring their vision to life, we are proud to be one of the sponsors of Gbenga’s history making and groundbreaking TEDx event.
Additionally to reinforce our commitment to continuous mentorship and youth development S.M.I.L.E also sponsored 18 youths to attend and benefit from the wealth of knowledge shared by the distinguished speakers.
We are incredibly proud of our dear Gbenga’s vision, leadership, and dedication and honored to be part of this milestone moment.
We will continue to support young leaders and amplify the impact of their ideas.
Congratulations Gbenga 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
We celebrate you, greatly 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Behind every smooth transition, every welcoming smile, and every unforgettable moment, there’s a dedicated team of people working selflessly to make it all happen.

From early mornings to late nights, these incredible individuals gave their time, energy, and skills to ensure everything ran seamlessly. They are the true definition of service, teamwork, and passion.

We celebrate you. We appreciate you. We couldn’t have done it without you!

#YLS2025

#Evolve2025

#YouthLeadChange

#YouthDayLagos

#IYD2025

The 2024 Young Leaders Mentoring Program, our young trailblazers joined YLS 2025 ready to learn, connect, and grow, discovering that the journey to leadership can start early and evolve endlessly.

Through engaging sessions, powerful conversations, and moments of reflection, they left with renewed confidence and a bigger vision for the future.

Their presence was a reminder that when young minds are nurtured early, the possibilities are limitless.

#YLS2025

#Evolve2025

#YouthLeadChange

#YouthDayLagos

#IYD2025

The NYSC members, in their crisp uniforms, stood out not just for their appearance but for their enthusiasm and dedication.

The NYSC members, in their crisp uniforms, stood out not just for their appearance but for their enthusiasm and dedication. They added a youthful spark to the atmosphere, embodying the spirit of service and unity that the Corps represents.

Their involvement went beyond attendance, they actively participated in the day’s conversations, celebrations, and connections, leaving an impression of commitment and camaraderie that enriched the entire event.

#YLS2025

#Evolve2025

#YouthLeadChange

#YouthDayLagos

#IYD2025

It was a beautiful moment to witness, LASUSTECH students coming together to honor the President of S.M.I.L.E, Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins.

This wasn’t just about handing over a plaque. It was about saying “thank you” from the heart, for the countless seeds she’s sown, the doors she’s opened, and the way she continues to believe in and invest in young people.

Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins, your kindness, leadership, and unwavering support have left footprints on many lives, and today, we celebrate you.

#YLS2025

#Evolve2025

#YouthLeadChange

#YouthDayLagos

#IYD2025

Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment (S.M.I.L.E) is a youth leadership development and mentoring non-profit organization established in Lagos. Nigeria in 2011 (S.M.I.L.E) and in Maryland, United States of America in 2017 (S.M.I.L.E Initiative)

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Maryland, U.S.A  |  Lagos Nigeria

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