Seventeen, Seen, and Set in Motion
In 2018, at just 17 years old, I received my very first grant from Peace First for a library project. At the time, I was only beginning my journey as a changemaker, unsure if my voice mattered and if my dreams for my community were even possible. That grant did far more than help me build a library, it made me feel seen, heard, and believed in. It told me that my ideas had value and that change could start with someone like me. I still remember the excitement, the renewed energy, and the courage it gave me. For the first time, I felt that I wasn’t just working on a project; I was part of a global community that trusted young people to lead. That feeling stayed with me, fueling every step I have taken since.
Today, I am the Founder and CEO of the Selfless Hearts Foundation, a youth-led collective dedicated to fostering development in Africa through leadership, technology, education, and meaningful youth engagement. What began as one library project has grown into a movement that has touched tens of thousands of lives. Through my initiatives, I have worked to eradicate illiteracy and meet the learning needs of young people by ensuring equitable access to opportunities, relevant learning resources, and life skills training.
My team and I have connected with over 30 educational institutions, distributing more than 11,000 educational materials and building 3 community school libraries, benefiting over 21,000 learners.
We have gone beyond books to bridge the digital divide, organising the Selfless Techathon, which has empowered more than 800 young participants with scholarships in UI/UX design, data analytics, web development, branding, AI, cybersecurity, product design, Web3 and more.
As an unapologetic crusader for equal opportunities for women and girls, I launched The Pad a Girl Campaign, supporting over 200 girls from low-income backgrounds with annual supplies of sanitary towels to reduce absenteeism in school. I have convened youth symposiums, initiated clean water projects that have improved the lives of over 169,000 people in Lagos’ rural communities, and provided free medical tests and treatments to residents in need. We have even renovated our local community police station to foster safety, patriotism, and pride. Every one of these milestones, every book donated, every scholarship, every young girl empowered, every community transformed can be traced back to not just the support of friends, family and kind individuals but also to that moment in 2018 when Peace First said yes to me. That grant was the seed, and what you see today is the forest it inspired.
