Building young leaders from the street up...

Throughout Lagos State, there are over 35,000 ‘Area Boys.’ Although some young people from traditionally disadvantaged backgrounds can thrive, many end up on the streets of the city they believed would solve their problems.

In Lagos, the emerging mega-city, competition for resources as fierce as it is anywhere else on earth, leaving those with less mental capital unable to fend for themselves in ethical and constructive ways. The resulting poverty and hopelessness drives them to crime and violence. This lifestyle traps them even deeper in economic and social poverty. Without skills in creative problem-solving, confidence, responsibility and morality, and a job that allows them to flourish, they are consigned to a painful and fruitless life on the edges of society where crime and gang violence are so seductive.

With this social program, every ‘Future Maker’ will be given support to understand and apply the principles of creative leadership to find gainful employment, whether in a factory, business, as a street entrepreneur, as a social entrepreneur or in further education and training. By helping them find value in the options available to them, we ensure that they stay in employment and off the street. As the program spreads, using members to train new members, it will act as a powerful antidote to the crime, graft and opportunism that are hallmarks of today’s Lagos.

Future Makers is currently fund-raising in Lagos, where we have the support of the business community, local chieftains, politicians and more. A key focus of all our social projects is to create a sustainable, smart and successful programme that does not need funding once beyond start-up.

For in-depth information about this project, please contact us to see if we can collaborate together.