The 2-Day Weekend Retreat held this year for mentees in the Career, Business and Social Enterprise Cohorts of S.M.I.L.E’s Executive Mentoring Program for Youth (EMPY) was truly transformative. This gathering brought together dynamic mentees and passionate facilitators, fostering an atmosphere of growth, learning, and connection.

The retreat concluded with an emotional moment as mentees expressed heartfelt gratitude to the founder of S.M.I.L.E, Mrs Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins(BBM), Mr Tunde Mabawonku(TM), the Executive Director, Retail and Digital Banking, Wema Bank Plc., Head of Communication at S.M.I.L.E, Mrs Ajibola Babalola, and Mr Daniel Allison the administrative intern for their dedication and sacrifices in shaping their journeys to become better individuals and leaders. Their kind words and thoughtful gestures left a lasting impression on everyone present.

To highlight this impactful experience, a memorable photo session captured the essence of the retreat:

– A general group photograph with the Wema Bank faculty.

– A special moment with the female mentees alongside BBM and the male mentees with TM.

– Individual cohort shots for the Career, Business, and Social Enterprise groups.

As the mentees parted ways, it was clear that this group of leaders would carry the lessons and values instilled in them, making a remarkable impact in their communities.

As part of the enriching experience during the S.M.I.L.E Executive Mentoring Program for Youth (EMPY) Weekend Retreat, mentees participated in a Dining Etiquette Practical Session facilitated by Mrs. Oluwaferanmi Owolabi, Head of Purple Academy, Wema Bank Plc.

This engaging session provided mentees with the opportunity to learn and practice the art of professional dining etiquette while enjoying a served lunch. Mrs. Owolabi offered valuable insights into proper table manners, understanding plate settings, and the subtle skills needed for formal dining occasions.

The interactive nature of this session equipped mentees with practical knowledge to confidently navigate formal dining settings, helping them leave a lasting impression in both professional and social environments.

A special thank you to Mrs. Owolabi for making this session both educational and memorable for the mentees.

At S.M.I.L.E, we recognize the importance of wellness and promoting healthy habits like exercise to foster the holistic development of our youth.

The second day of the EMPY Weekend Retreat kicked off with an invigorating light aerobics session led by Mr. Joshua Adeyeye from the Business Cohort.

This energizing activity set a positive tone for the day, enhancing the mentees’ energy levels and preparing them for a productive day of learning and networking.

To wrap up the year, the mentees in the Career/Business/Social Enterprise cohorts of S.M.I.L.E’s Executive Mentoring Program for Youth (EMPY), organized a special fun packed hangout in Ibadan, Oyo State and Lagos State on Sunday December 15,2024.

The hangout was a fantastic opportunity for mentees to finally meet in person after months of connecting virtually since the commencement of the hybrid program.

We are glad to see everyone come together, relax, get to know each other, build stronger connections, share experiences and map out ways to support each other on this amazing journey!

The mentees in the Social Enterprise Cohort of S.M.I.L.E’s Executive Mentoring Program for Youth(EMPY) had an insightful time with facilitators from the Wema Bank Plc team during the retreat held on Saturday July 20, 2024 at the Wema Bank Plc Purple Academy.

Ms. Oladele Team Lead, Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility, taught the mentees about the importance of crafting a clear and compelling Vision, Mission and Values. She encouraged them to align their work with the Sustainable Development Goals and cited practical ways to identify and prioritize high impact programs.

Special thanks to Ms. Peace Igwe and Mr Deji Mahmood, Investor

Relations Officer at Wema Bank Plc, who shed more light on the importance of data collation, analysis and interpretation in reporting and communicating impact.

We are yet to recover from the mental shift by Mrs. Oluwaferanmi Owolabi, Head of Purple Academy Wema Bank Plc. who taught the mentees on the need to properly understand their social enterprise, the needs it was created to meet and the specific details they need to have so they can easily scale and be grant ready.

Mr Ajibade Laolu-Adewale

Group Head, Partnerships & Ecosystem wrapped up the session by encouraging the social entrepreneurs to embrace a value-driven approach to building relationships with investors and partners.

The first day was wrapped up by a joint session for mentees in the Career, Business and Social Enterprise Cohorts on Sales and Marketing Strategies by Mr Idy Enang, CEO Corporate Shepherds Limited and the President/Chairman of the Governing Council of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria.

The mentees in the Business Cohort had the privilege of having an in-depth and practical first session with Prof. Yinka Fisher, (The Acting Director, Partnership & Coordination Department, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria(SMEDAN) on Understanding Business Development.

Prof. Fisher, an exceptional business trainer taught the mentees on Saturday July 20, 2024 on Business Model Canvas which entails the foundation, process and actualization of a business. He painstakingly went through the business plans of the mentees providing insights on the components and importance of a business plan.

He encouraged the young entrepreneurs to be familiar with their environment, identify a niche for their business and follow that niche until they gain recognition.

He explained that in every business, integrity matters a lot and one of the best models for growth is through referrals.

His words to the mentees was to

think big, start small, start now, and avoid procrastination.

We are extremely grateful to Mrs Olaitan Alao, Retail and SME Products Manager, Wema Bank Plc, who taught on Financial Planning and Funding. She defined, financial planning as the process of managing one’s funds to achieve personal and business goals. She highlighted the key components and importance of Financial Planning which include: budgeting, saving, investing, and debt management. In addition, she talked about Budgeting, Forecasting, and Funding, encouraging the young entrepreneurs to ensure proper book keeping, separate business income from their personal income, seek mentorship and save for emergencies/milestones.

Our profound appreciation to Mr. Ademola Adewusi, Senior Human Resource Business Partner, Wema Bank Plc who taught extensively on the Components of a Business Plan. He exemplified the fact that a business plan should contain an Executive Summary, Problem Statement, Introduction, Business Profile, Budget, Financial Plan, Implementation Plan, Risk and Mitigation.

We are also grateful to Mr Ademola Adewuyi, Innovation Program Manager for the highly insightful session on The Fund Raising Formula.

The climax of the day were the one on one business clarity sessions by Prof. Fisher with mentees in the Business Cohort. This session helped provide customized solutions to the business challenges of the young entrepreneurs.

We are so thrilled that 15 Change Champions from our 2024 Young Leaders Mentoring Program(YLMP) are leading the way and turning their training into impact after being appointed as Head Boys, Head Girls, and Prefects across the 5 secondary schools we adopted.

We are confident that these exceptional young leaders, who have been equipped with invaluable leadership skills are prepared to lead with purpose, excellence, and selflessness.

Congratulations

We are so proud of you.

Here’s to a future shaped by vision, resilience, and dedication!

#SMILEChangeChampions #LeadershipInAction

S.M.I.LE’s 2024/2025 Executive Mentoring Program for Youth (EMPY) has kicked off and a life changing journey begins for 40 burgeoning youth, admitted into the Career, Business and Social Enterprise Cohorts of the leadership development and mentoring program.

During a recently held onboarding session our Lead Mentor Mr Tunde Mabawonku, the Executive Director, Retail and Digital Banking, Wema Bank Plc encouraged the mentees to embrace opportunities for learning and to familiarize themselves with professional platforms. He urged them to fully engage with the program to maximize its potential, assuring them that their growth over the six-month mentorship would be transformative.

Furthermore, the President of Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment (S.M.I.L.E), Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins shared insights about the vision and mission of the organization, highlighting the organization’s accomplishments to date. She urged mentees to embody the core values of S.M.I.L.E., become role models and good Ambassadors of the organization.

We are super excited and looking forward to another impactful program.

To help us touch more lives, please visit our website https://smileng.org/donation/

S.M.I.L.E …Building a better world, raising a new generation of Leaders

Congratulations to all our 20 mentees who successfully scaled through the screening process and have been admitted into the Business and Social Enterprise Cohort of S.M.I.L.E’s Executive Mentoring Program for Youth (EMPY).

The EMPY is a small group mentoring program that connects Youth with accomplished professionals in various fields mostly CEOs, Business Owners, Top Executives, etc who serve as mentors to youth in specific areas such as Career, Business and Social Enterprise to facilitate their development and attainment of life goals.

The program presents the mentees the opportunity to leverage on the guidance, experiences and the network of their mentors to make informed decisions and achieve their personal and professional goals.

Wishing you a great learning experience as you embark on this 6 months transformative self-development journey.

S.M.I.L.E…Building a better world, raising a new generation of Leaders