DANIEL AKINJISE

Daniel is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management with over four years work experience in Human Resources and Administration that cuts across several sectors which includes non-profit, retail and FMCG. He currently works with the HR and Admin team of Nitro121, a leading advertising firm in West Africa. In 2019, he was nominated for the MAATHAI IMPACT AWARD and was selected as a delegate to attend the World Youth Forum in Egypt. In 2020, he represented Nigeria at the West Africa Youth Internet Governance Forum, Sierra Leone.

“Mentors are like roadmaps; with their experience, they guide you through life’s journey by helping you avoid the mistakes they made.”

Q: Tell us a few things about your country, and also your life's story!

I am from Ondo state in the South West of Nigeria but was born and raised in Lagos, a city of hustle and bustle. Nigeria is blessed with over 200 million people and Nigerians are known to be great people with the capacity to achieve whatever they desire, supported by records of their achievements in almost all countries of the world. Connecting the dots, how the influences in my life shaped me.

At age 4, I suffered meningitis. I was taken to a hospital in the local community almost all the doctors couldn’t do anything because they felt it was an extreme case. I was referred to another hospital in a neighbouring community where the resident doctors advised my mum to take me home instead of wasting her effort and stressing herself on a child who is almost gone. The love my mother has for me made her refuse to take me home. After several hours of staying and pleading, one of the student doctors approached her and offered to help. He ensured I was re-admitted, and he administered some alternative treatments that helped me recover. 

17 years later, I was in my final year and about to graduate from college when I came across an essay contest online: Nigeria Climate Contest organized by Heinrich Boelle Stiftung. We were required to write an essay about our personal experiences of the effects of climate change. Without much hope, I submitted an entry. I wasn’t really expecting any positive feedback because of the limited time I had to write the essay. Surprisingly, I got a congratulatory email 2 weeks later stating that my essay had been chosen as one of two winning essays, and I was entitled to an all-expenses paid trip to Abuja. I couldn’t explain how happy I was considering the limited time I had to submit the essay. It was my first air travel experience. Since I was a child, I had always fantasized on how splendid it would be to fly in a plane, and now the dream has come into reality with all expenses paid.

I went to Abuja to take part in the National climate march towards the government house and the presidential villa. The aim of the march was to make law makers aware of the urgency of making and signing a climate law. I was privileged to share my climate change experience with over 100 climate activist and environmentalists. This experience built my passion for climate advocacy and I was nominated to attend a world climate simulation training. I came out of the training filled with ideas and innovations and decided to do something.

Shortly after, I went into research and I realized that a lot of people are suffering from the effects of climate change all over the world, from floods to coastal erosion, rising sea levels and temperatures to diseases. In the Northern part of Nigeria, a lot of children die from meningitis. Many people lost their houses to flooding and many farmers lost produce to lack of rain. All of these together made me launch an initiative (TAD Initiative) which serves as an online sensitization hub for issues relating to climate change, environmental sustainability, community services and youth empowerment. This serves as a platform through which a lot of people are reached via social media platforms, blogs and a website on how to prevent and combat the effects climate change in the community.

TAD INITIATIVE has connected the dots for me and has also influenced me to become a person who positively impacts his environment and the people around him. Please visit www.instagram.com/tadinitiative to read more!

Q: What was your experience of the global pandemic crisis? Did it change your life and/or your views about the world? If so, how?

Firstly, the novel corona virus handicapped economic activities, resulting in job losses for many Nigerian youths, leading to an increase in crime rates and mental health problems. These unemployed youths actively participated in criminal atrocities in the community. For example, a group of youths named the ONE MILLION GANG have been disturbing the peace of the communities by engaging in robbery, theft and murder of innocent women and children.

Secondly, the Nigerian economy is still struggling to recover from the 2016 economic recession that happened as a result of the reduction in global oil. It is clear from the emergence of the current global crisis that there are implications on the economy in terms of both supply and demand. Some of those factors include social distancing with consumers staying at home, limitations in spending and declining consumption. This may result in inflation and poverty if care is not taken.

In addition, lockdowns and curfews have led to hunger and famine within our communities. The government has reached out to a few members of the community with palliative care and food relief materials but some citizens haven’t had access to them yet. As an active citizen, I am volunteering my time and skills with some youth-led non-profits to help pack and distribute food relief materials to the vulnerable.

So yes, the pandemic has changed the way I view the world, as I have come to realize that the world is just a small village, where whatever affects one person, affects all. We need to come together more to fight our enemies together.

Q: What are some of the key challenges in your society currently?

In certain parts of Nigeria, young people don’t have access to quality education and skills, which has led to unemployment, robbery, unrest and underdevelopment in the country. It’s no longer news that the educational system of Nigeria has failed its youth. According to research by the United Nations, Nigeria records about 30% unemployment rate amongst youth, caused by lack of quality education, archaic curriculums, unqualified teachers, unaffordability of tuition and bad governance, amongst others.

The unemployment rate in Nigeria is escalating at an alarming rate with much emphasis on entrepreneurship, as the government alone cannot provide jobs for all the unemployed. Unemployment is a macroeconomic problem that touches societies all over the world, from the USA to Europe and Africa.

Q: Can you share with us some of the hurdles that you have had to overcome in your life so far? How did you handle them? 

Impostor Syndrome, an issue I have experienced for so long but only read about just last year. It’s believed to be suffered by one third of young people globally and a mental health issue common amongst millennials. In Nigeria today, we have several cases of young people committing suicide due to failure in certain areas of their lives (academic, relationship or career).

Young people seem to doubt themselves more than ever, which could be blamed on the over use of social media or on family background. Seeing another’s achievement online can compound the problem. It’s an internal dialogue of self-doubt or inadequacy that persists despite evident success.

It’s the constant process of seeing a list of your achievements, disregarding them and disbelieving that you can reach the next. This isn’t low self-esteem or lack of self-confidence, as it’s also suffered by highly intelligent and successful people.

I was able to overcome impostor syndrome by:

• Developing a new response/approach to failure: “failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently”. Try to do things differently and check out the outcome.

• Rewarding myself: celebrate small and big wins. If no one validates you, please do it yourself. Learn to pat yourself on the back. Know that well-planned success looks more real and learn to visualize your success.

• Make the rules: you have the right to make small mistakes and be corrected. So, ask questions often from people you see as mentors. Don’t be scared to ask for help.

• Taking risks: take calculated risks and build confidence. They say a drop of water, makes an ocean.

Q: If you were to ask one thing from our current leaders, what would it be?

If it was a personal request, it would be an international scholarship opportunity to enhance my personal development. I would also ask for more strategic opportunities to help me improve in the social impact work I do, creating room for me to make continuous positive impact in the society.

Q: Why is the role of a mentor important for you?

Mentors are like roadmaps; with their experience, they guide you through life’s journey by helping you avoid the mistakes they made. Mentees learn things from their mentor, ranging from lessons from their career journey to insightful travel experiences, learnings from different environments, ways of life, and how mentees can avoid certain career mistakes in their lifetime.

Q: Do you have a lesson that life has taught you and you would like to share? 

One of my favourite life lessons came from my experience as a member of Junior Chamber International (an International youth-led NGO), and it’s summarized in this sentence:

“Faith in God gives meaning and purpose to human life”.

I joined JCI about 10 years ago, but those words started to have deeper meanings for me last year, after stumbling on them again. For me, I have come to realize that nothing indeed can be achieved without faith in God.

Q: Name a project, a foundation or a person in your country that you think is doing great work in helping improve other people's lives!

Since the start of the global pandemic, I have actively supported several community projects as a volunteer, and FOOD CLIQUE SUPPORT INITIATIVE is one of them. It’s an NGO in Nigeria established to help put an end to hunger. During this period, we reached out to the needy and vulnerable people living in slums and low-cost area of Lagos with emergency food relief materials to help them survive the lockdown.

It’s FOOD CLIQUE’s vision to fulfil Goal 1 of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nation called Zero Hunger, by ensuring that no one goes to bed with an empty stomach during these uncertain times. In the last few months, though the help of donors and volunteers, FOOD CLIQUE have fed about 100,000 people in Lagos.

Q: What are some of the challenges that women in your country face and what efforts are being made towards gender equality?

Female Genital Mutilation is a challenge in most parts of Nigeria. The UN has declared FGM a violation of the human rights of girls and women. In 2015, there was a landmark ban on FGM in Nigeria, and the international community has prioritized ending FGM in the new Global Goals under GOAL 5 – to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Nigerian youths can make a difference in the following ways:

USE THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA: In an era where news can be reported the moment it happens, the power of the individual has increased incredibly. Do not doubt that your words or actions can make a difference because by joining other people on Facebook or Twitter to post an article or simply state your opinions, you have the power to connect with hundreds and thousands of other people at once. Therefore, I encourage youth to take whatever small action they can on social media to support the movement to end FGM.

VOLUNTEERING WITH ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING INITIATIVES: If you live in a community where FGM is happening, see if you can volunteer to help. Even if you don’t, it’s worth finding out how services and individuals can engage with communities. Voicing concerns is important, but it’s practical action that will have the most effect. Support community education because legislation alone cannot end FGM.

RAISE AWARENESS: Young people can sign petitions and learn by watching films and reading articles or first-hand accounts. Although people are aware of FGM, the majority are not aware of ‘cutting season’ and just how many girls are at risk. An important step in the fight to stop FGM is simply raising awareness of the problem. Young people can help publicize this to schools.

COMMUNITY RALLY: Groups that practice Community Rally do so for a complex set of reasons and the procedure has existed for many generations. Just shouting that it’s wrong isn’t going to change their minds. We need to reach out to and work in partnership with resident communities in the Nigeria if we want to stop FGM.

STAY VIGILANT: Girls who are being cut and pierced are always young, possibly not fully aware of what is happening and why, and if they are they may not feel able to speak out. It’s important to watch for warning signs if you know anyone who you believe is at risk.

HELP INFLUENCE THE LAW: Not much can be done without laws supporting movements and protecting against FGM. Legislation must be created and enforced to enable progress. Youth can help in this aspect by joining in rallies to sensitize the government on the importance of signing the laws.

Q: Share with us a phrase, a poem or a story that you love or you find interesting!

“Everyone is only Everyone Else”- Anonymous

Q: Can you share with us a project that you would like to make happen for your country or a cause that you are passionate about? 

In 2020 I started the EMPOWERED YOUTHS AFRICA project, a youth-led initiative helping to sensitise young people about the right precautionary measures necessary to reduce the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria. We advocated and sensitized citizens with the use of social media on the importance of following all measures in order to flatten the curve. Through the empowered youth project, we organized several skill development sessions, aimed at improving the lives of young people across Africa and were facilitated by industry thought leaders and subject matter experts. We helped over 200 youths (Africans, Asians and Europeans) with relevant skills needed to survive during and post covid-19 through our virtual trainings and we advocated against fake news about coronavirus. Some of our sessions were centred on: Surviving with Your Skills; Leveraging on Advocacy; Managing your Mental Health. In 2021, we reviewed our mission to accommodate more programs for youth development. We created a platform for young people who are set on acquiring knowledge in order to be successful in the various niches through mentorship and peer learning. It’s our desire to continue to help more young people living in underserved areas in Lagos, acquire IT and soft skills for their personal development and career growth.