WYBF Nurtures Next-Gen Leaders, Enhances Scholarship Programme for Indigent Students
The Wilson and Yinka Badejo Foundation (WYBF) recently marked its 19th Annual Lecture and 5th Memorial Lecture with a focus on ‘Raising Responsible Next-Gen Leaders: Character, Citizenship, and the Future of Nigeria’ at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Late General Overseer, Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria and the Visioner/Founders, Wilson & Yinka Badejo Foundation (WYBF)
During the event, the foundation unveiled an initiative aimed at developing responsible future leaders through an expanded scholarship program and enhanced youth participation in nation-building efforts.
The foundation emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among young Nigerians, government officials, private sector leaders, and non-governmental organizations to translate ideas into tangible national development outcomes.
In his welcome address, Rev. Dr. Sam Aboyeji, General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, paid tribute to the late Rev. Dr. Wilson Badejo, highlighting his legacy as a visionary leader and dynamic movement builder who significantly impacted spiritual growth and development beyond his denomination.
Rev. Aboyeji described Rev. Dr. Badejo as a gifted Bible teacher, church planter, and mentor who nurtured numerous talents. He also commended the late Rev. Mrs. Yinka Anike Badejo, noting her remarkable contributions as a woman of God, wife of a reformer, and vibrant minister who strengthened homes and nurtured spiritual leaders.
The theme of the lecture was underscored as particularly relevant given Nigeria’s need for responsible leadership, with Rev. Aboyeji emphasizing that competence without character can lead to disaster, and knowledge without integrity can result in manipulation.
He advised scholarship recipients to utilize the opportunities provided wisely, emphasizing the importance of character, discipline, hard work, and integrity.
Guest lecturer Mrs. Debola Deji-Kurumi, a leadership coach and public policy expert, highlighted the importance of engaging the younger generation in solution-building initiatives through collaborative and co-creative approaches.
She stressed the need for citizens to take responsibility for national transformation, abandoning a culture of blame and embracing agency in rebuilding the nation.
According to her, Nigeria’s transformation requires deliberate action from individuals who recognized their role as drivers of change, rather than relying solely on government institutions.
She emphasized that urgency for change must be coupled with agency, where individuals take personal responsibility for effecting change
Deji-Kurumi lamented the growing loss of national optimism, stating that many Nigerians now view the country through the lens of failure. ‘Nigeria is not a failed project,’ she declared emphatically.
Despite Nigeria’s challenges, she maintained that thousands of individuals, organizations, and institutions are making meaningful contributions across various fields and professions, demonstrating leadership, vision, and execution. ‘We can no longer continue to lament the failure of a nation whose future we have not actively shaped,’ she said.
Deji-Kurumi urged Nigerians to deliberately celebrate and emulate change-makers rather than focusing exclusively on failures and mediocrities.
On the increasing wave of migration known as ‘Japa,’ she emphasized that leaving Nigeria should not amount to abandoning responsibility for the country’s future. Instead of exiting like fugitives, she encouraged Nigerians relocating abroad to ‘exit like you are sent,’ acquiring global knowledge, investing in Nigeria through mentorship, expertise, philanthropy, and partnerships. She also called on Nigerians abroad to remain contributors to national development, even if they do not return.
The highlight of her lecture was a strong call for character-driven leadership, warning young Nigerians against cha1sing social media validation at the expense of integrity, discipline, and moral excellence. ‘Character is the bedrock of meaningful development,’ she Said 1, noting that intelligence alone is no longer enough.
In conclusion, Deji-Kurumi admonished that Nigeria’s destiny would be shaped by citizens willing to become builders rather than spectators, asking, ‘What can I do for Nigeria?’ rather than ‘What can Nigeria do for me?’
Dr. Tunde Lemo, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, eulogized Rev. Dr. Wilson Badejo as an exemplary encourager and mentor.
He supported a student initiative aimed at supporting high-performing students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in STEM fields.
The Wilson & Yinka Badejo Foundation’s Vice Chairman, Mr. Femi Badejo, disclosed plans to expand its scholarship programme and highlighted the RAISE initiative, which allows sponsors to directly support students.
Oyinkansola Adebayo, a 300-level student, of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State emerged as the inaugural recipient of the WYBF RAISE.
Femi Badejo lamented the discontinuation of support from some organizations and called on the Federal Government to support organizations addressing developmental challenges.
The BoT Chairman, Rev. Adedimeji Adegbesan, expressed the foundation’s ambition to become a lifelong institution that outlives its current founders and leadership.
“The foundation’s expectation is to become a perpetual entity advancing its mission long after the current leadership”, Rev Adegbesan stated.
The event also featured the presentation of the distinguished 2026 Wilson & Yinka Badejo Stewardship Excellence Award to Rev. Dr. Sam Aboyeji for his exceptional stewardship and commitment to advancing the Foundation.
