In a compelling show of commitment to youth advancement, the Noella Foundation has officially launched the second edition of its much-anticipated initiative — the Life After School Summit — with a clear mission: to equip Nigerian tertiary students with the tools, mindset and confidence to step meaningfully into the world of work, entrepreneurship and digital innovation.
Held in Lagos, the summit gathered more than 500 students from various institutions across the state, focusing on practical readiness rather than mere theoretical preparation. According to the Foundation, this year’s event expands beyond typical career-advice fare into deeper territory: digital skills, financial literacy, business formation and personal brand building.
The headline results are striking. Forty-two students left the day with laptops; 26 were awarded educational grants; 250 were selected for a four-week bootcamp; and 50 will progress further into a creative workshop phase. The message is clear: education doesn’t end when the classroom doors close — it begins when young people start asking “what next?”
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From vision to action: how the Noella summit unfolded
Opening the summit, Mrs Layal Jade Tinubu, Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Noella Foundation, spoke from the heart. “As a mother and an advocate for education, this moment is deeply personal to me. The Life After School Summit goes beyond CVs and interviews. It is about giving students the mindset and skills to shape their own futures,” she said.
Indeed, the day’s programming reflected that orientation. Students rotated through interactive workshops covering:
- Personal branding & CV writing
- Foundational financial literacy
- Entry-level digital skills for the workplace
- Professional headshots to bolster their online presence
A standout feature was the calibre of speakers. Among them were Bankole Williams, who delivered a session titled “Frustration and Fascination as Direction”; Mojisola Hunponu‑Wusu, who addressed building a globally relevant career; and creative industry stalwarts such as Kunle Afolayan and Stella Fubara.
Government representation added official weight: Ayodele Olawande, Minister for Youth Development, urged students to combine values with competence and discipline. “What the Noella Foundation is giving you today is not the destination but the beginning,” he said. Also, the Director-General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, announced fast-tracked Corporate Affairs Commission registration support for student-led businesses.
Building bridges: the impact and what happens next
The true power of the summit lies less in speeches and more in what follows. For many students, the event shifted perspective. One participant, a mass communication student from Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), admitted: “I never had a LinkedIn account before today … After what I’ve learned here, I’m creating one immediately and positioning myself as an effective communicator ready to explore professional opportunities.”
The programme’s tangible rewards are equally meaningful. The 42 laptop recipients and 26 educational-grant winners stand to benefit directly. The selection of 250 students for a four-week bootcamp — and from them 50 to advance into a creative workshop — signals a commitment to sustained development beyond the one-day event.
Seyi Tinubu, Chairman and Co-Founder of Noella Foundation, captured the ethos: “The Life After School event has not just become a programme but a culminating movement. It reminds us that education does not end when the school bells ring; it truly begins when the real questions start to emerge. Life after school is not always linear, but with focus, resilience, and faith, we will continue to help young people find their way.”
What this means in practical terms:
- Transition support: Helping students move from academic learning into the workforce or entrepreneurship.
- Skill expansion: Not just ‘what to do’ but ‘how to think’, particularly in a global digital economy.
- Network access: Connecting students to industry voices and opportunities they might not otherwise access.
- Recognition and reward: Incentives that signal belief in students’ potential — laptops, grants, workshop places.
Why the Noella Foundation School summit for Nigerian youth and beyond
In a nation where youth unemployment remains a pressing concern and rapid digital disruption is altering career landscapes, programmes like the Life After School Summit matter. They act as bridges between schooling and meaningful participation in work and society.
For Nigerian tertiary students, the gap between graduation and gainful employment can be wide and filled with uncertainty. By focusing less on traditional lecture formats and more on practical readiness, the Summit addresses this gap head-on.
Furthermore, equipping young people with digital literacy and entrepreneurial readiness is crucial. As the Minister noted, values are important, but alone they are not enough. Competence, adaptability and digital fluency are equally critical.
With the world accelerating toward remote work, global marketplaces and digital business models, young Nigerians who sharpen their digital and professional readiness have an important opportunity. Organisations like the Noella Foundation are stepping into that space — helping students not just to seek a job, but to shape careers.
Conclusion
The second edition of the Life After School Summit marks more than an event; it is a proactive attempt to redefine the way young Nigerians prepare for life beyond formal education. With intensive workshops, meaningful rewards and a roadmap into longer-term engagement, the summit offers a model of youth empowerment that may scale nationwide. For every student who attended, and for many who will engage in the follow-up programmes, the message was clear: your story after school doesn’t have to be uncertain — it can begin here, and begin strong.
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