Blog

With technology evolving rapidly, digital literacy has become more crucial than ever.

Unfortunately, the digital divide and the inability of the youth demographic we serve to afford essential tools and devices remains a major setback and cause for concern.

During Module 4 of the Young Leaders Mentoring Program (YLMP), the Change Champions took a deep dive into the world of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)under the expert guidance of Mr. Jesse Okpara, CEO Mobitranes Technologies.

Through this insightful session, they gained hands-on knowledge in:

General computer appreciation

Basic use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Electronic mail (Email)

Navigating the internet and academic tools

Mr. Okpara emphasized the importance of becoming tech-savvy, warning that those who fail to adapt may risk being left behind. He encouraged the Change Champions to leverage digital tools for positive impact while avoiding misuse.

Additionally, he shed light on the benefits of acquiring basic, intermediate, and advanced computer skills and explored various career opportunities in the digital space.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Jesse Okpara for enlightening our young leaders about essential digital skills, bridging the digital divide, and paving the way for a more connected future!

S.M.I.L.E… Building a better world by raising a new generation of leaders

Social media is a powerful tool for connectivity, but it’s a double-edged sword. While it offers countless opportunities, it also comes with challenges—making digital literacy and responsible usage essential. This was the focus of our Social Media Management session.

A special appreciation to Miss Alimot Uthman, a Youth Mentor at S.M.I.L.E, who delivered an enlightening session on the positive use of social media. Her insightful presentation shed light on building an impactful online presence, engaging effectively, and leveraging quality content to grow a business or personal brand.

During the session, she guided the Change Champions through the practical steps of creating a professional social media presence. Those without email accounts even had the opportunity to set one up for the first time!

Using a PowerPoint presentation, she highlighted key attributes of a professional social media profile, including:

A professional headshot

Name and designation

Location and contact details

And more!

We sincerely appreciate Miss Alimot Uthman for her valuable insights and for empowering the next generation with the skills to navigate social media effectively!

S.M.I.L.E… Building a better world by raising a new generation of leaders

Personal branding goes beyond logos and titles—it’s about what you truly stand for and the impression you leave on others.

During the fourth module of the 2025 YLMP, we had the privilege of having Mr. Idorenyen Enang, CEO of Corporate Shepherds Limited and a trustee at S.M.I.L.E, a renowned marketing and branding expert. His engaging and insightful session inspired participants to discover their core values and craft their unique narratives. He emphasized that personal branding is a reflection of who you are, encouraging the Change Champions to develop a brand that leaves a lasting, positive impact.

*Key Takeaways from Mr. Enang’s Session:*

Stand out from the crowd – Become the first and preferred choice among your peers.

Be memorable – Differentiate yourself from competitors.

Create an emotional connection – Engage with customers, clients, and followers to build loyalty.

Build credibility and trust – Protect your name and align your actions with your brand to establish authenticity.

A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Enang for guiding our Change Champions on this transformative journey toward authentic self-expression and impactful personal branding.

S.M.I.L.E… Building a better world by raising a new generation of leaders

What is your ideal world?

Mrs. Ajibola Babalola, a Social Entrepreneur, S.M.I.L.E Youth Mentor, and Founder of Radiance Niche, began her session on “The World We Want” by asking the Change Champions to visualize the world they desire. Their responses reflected their true spirit as emerging change-makers.

During the discussion, Mrs. Babalola provided a brief history of the world after World War II (1939-1945), explaining how it led to the formation of the United Nations and the eventual creation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She defined the SDGs and grouped the 17 goals into the 5Ps for better understanding:

People

Prosperity

Planet

Peace

Partnership

She left the Change Champions with a powerful SDG dictum: “A world where no one is left behind,” inspiring them to actively contribute to achieving the global goals. She then led a practical session where the Change Champions shared specific areas they would focus on to support the achievement of the SDGs.

The final session of Module 3 delved into “Academic Excellence,” an engaging and insightful lesson facilitated by Mrs. Babalola who happens to be a first class graduate. Using a practical approach, she guided the Change Champions on strategies for academic success, emphasizing the importance of resilience in the face of setbacks.

She reminded them that academic excellence is intentional, not accidental, and shared a simple yet impactful formula:

A – Accept the uniqueness of your learning style.

B – Be passionate about academic excellence.

C – Courageously set and achieve your academic goals.

It was a truly enriching session! A heartfelt thank you to Mrs. Ajibola Babalola for her inspiring words and invaluable insights.

On February 1, 2025, our 40 Change Champions gathered for an impactful Module 3 session of the YLMP, guided by the President of S.M.I.L.E, Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins(BBM). Her session focused on three key areas:

Mentoring: BBM emphasized the importance of mentoring as a developmental relationship between experienced and less experienced individuals. She highlighted that mentoring is not about cloning and stressed the need for the Change Champions to select mentors who possess the knowledge, skills, and values they aspire to develop.

She shared Isaac Newton’s quote, “I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulder of giants,” to illustrate the power of mentorship.

Public Speaking and Presentation Skills: BBM shared key tips for effective public speaking, including the “DOs and DON’Ts,” while emphasizing the importance of knowing your audience, material, and venue, as well as having a strong opening, clear message, and impactful closing.

Through engaging videos and a practical session where the Change Champions applied what they learned, she equipped them with various speaking techniques.

Handling Peer Pressure: BBM addressed the dangers of yielding to peer pressure and provided practical strategies for navigating it.

The session was impactful, leaving the Change Champions empowered with enhanced skills and greater confidence.

A huge thank you to Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins for her invaluable contribution.

Its IMPACT WEDNESDAY

It is truly gratifying to see our S.M.I.L.E Young Leaders Mentoring Program Alumni from the Class of 2014 and 2016 return to their alma mater, Baptist High School, Obanikoro to empower the next generation!

Over the course of three impactful Wednesdays (Nov 20 – Dec 4, 2024), they engaged 53 SS1 & SS2 students in a transformative journey of self-discovery and leadership. Through sessions on Self-Esteem, The Art of Leadership, and Goal Setting, they expanded students’ perspectives, helped shape growth mindsets, and showed them that there is MORE to who they are and what they can achieve.

A huge shoutout to our incredible alumni—Praise (2014), Bukunmi (2016), Toyosi (2016), and other members of the Baptist School Alumni—for their dedication to giving back! Seeing past participants invest in the next generation is the true mark of lasting impact. We trust the students were greatly inspired by the successes and accomplishments of their seniors.

Every effort counts in shaping the future, and their drive to make a difference keeps us inspired!

We celebrate enduring impact.

We are so proud of you!

S.M.I.L.E… Building a better world by raising a new generation of leaders.

“Time is a resource available to all, irrespective of status—use it effectively.” This powerful quote set the stage for an insightful session on Time Management, facilitated by Mr. Tobi Olaitan.

Mr. Olaitan introduced the Change Champions to the fundamental principles of time management, emphasizing that it is the strategic and efficient use of time. He explained that mastering this skill requires allocating the right amount of time to specific tasks to enhance productivity and effectiveness.

During the session, participants gained practical strategies for optimizing their time, including the importance of scheduling, to-do lists, and daily trackers. They were also introduced to digital tools such as Google Calendar, Google Tasks, and Microsoft Outlook, which can aid in better planning and organization. Additionally, they explored the five key paradigms to consider when structuring their daily activities.

It was an enriching and impactful session, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation to Mr. Tobi Olaitan for sharing his expertise and inspiring the Change Champions to make the most of their time.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” — John Quincy Adams

The final session of Module 2 featured an engaging and insightful session led by Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins, where she guided the Change Champions through the core principles of Effective Leadership and Mentoring.

She emphasized that true leadership is not defined by titles or positions but by the impact and influence one has on others. She encouraged the Change Champions to become transformational leaders—problem solvers who step up to challenges not because they created them, but because they have the responsibility to lead.

The session also explored various leadership styles, allowing each Change Champion to identify the one that resonated most with them. Discussions covered key leadership topics, including:

Barriers to Leadership

Common Misconceptions about Leadership

The Redefinition of Leadership

Qualities of a Great Leader

To conclude, Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins left the Change Champions with a powerful charge:

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi

The session was highly impactful, leaving the Change Champions inspired and eager to apply their newfound leadership insights.

A heartfelt thank you to our esteemed facilitator, Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins, for delivering such a transformative and enlightening session!

During the second module of S.M.I.L.E’s Executive Mentoring Program for Youth (EMPY), the mentees in the Career, Business, and Social Enterprise cohorts participated in an insightful session on the Effective Leadership and Mentoring Framework. This session was facilitated by the dynamic S.M.I.L.E President, Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins (BBM).

BBM began by explaining that leadership is a multifaceted concept. Through powerful quotes, personal anecdotes, and video illustrations, she explored the essence of leadership, dispelling common myths and misconceptions. She emphasized that leadership is not confined to formal roles, job titles, or positions but is defined by service, influence, impact, and transformation.

She reminded the mentees that true leaders do not require titles or positions of authority to lead and make a difference. Authentic leadership, she noted, involves inspiring, influencing, and guiding others toward a shared vision, regardless of formal authority.

BBM encouraged mentees to strive to become authentic, transformational, visionary, and servant leaders. She discussed various leadership styles and highlighted the key traits and qualities necessary for transformational leadership.

Additionally, she emphasized that leadership skills are critical for driving and sustaining personal success, growth, and impact. She highlighted the importance of these skills as foundational to success in mentees’ careers, businesses, and professional journeys. She provided practical steps to help mentees develop their leadership capabilities, urging them to continuously refine these skills.

BBM further stressed that employers highly value leadership qualities that align with achieving strategic goals. She encouraged mentees in the Business and Social Enterprise cohorts to embody distinct leadership traits that can drive success while shaping their organizations’ values, culture, direction, priorities, and strategies.

During the mentoring segment, BBM defined mentoring as a developmental relationship in which an experienced mentor shares knowledge, skills, values, and perspectives to foster the growth and development of a less-experienced mentee or protégé. She explained that mentoring is one of the most effective tools for transferring knowledge and facilitating both personal and intellectual growth for all parties involved. However, she cautioned that effective mentoring requires mentees to be faithful, available, and teachable (F.A.T.).

She concluded the session with a call to action, urging mentees to always ACT—take initiative, enact meaningful change, and share learnings with others. Mentees left the session feeling inspired, empowered, and equipped to embrace leadership roles and build mutually beneficial mentoring relationships.

A heartfelt thank you to Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins for an impactful session filled with actionable insights and inspiration!