At the UN International Youth Day celebration, speakers, innovators, and changemakers push for youth-led solutions to the SDGs.
The Regal Hall in Oregun came alive on Saturday, August 9th, 2025, as hundreds of young leaders, policymakers, innovators, and development stakeholders gathered for the 2025 United Nations International Youth Day (IYD) in partnership with the S.M.I.L.E Youth Leadership Summit (YLS).
With the twin themes Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond and EVOLVE: Building Future-Ready Leaders, the event was a rallying call for young people to step into leadership roles today — not tomorrow — and to leverage innovation, skills, and purpose to shape a more sustainable, inclusive future.
“You Are the Leaders of Today”
Opening the summit, Mr. Tunde Mabawonku urged Nigerian youth to reject the common narrative that they are merely “leaders of tomorrow.”
“Don’t wait four, five, or ten years to take charge,” he said. “In whatever role or assignment you find yourself, lead — and lead well. Disruption is the new normal, and leaders must evolve in mindset, skill, and character to not only survive but to thrive.”
He praised SMILE’s work in connecting young people with mentors who walk alongside them, describing the day’s workshops, graduations, and innovation showcases as “strategic investments in the future of our nation.”
A Global Endorsement of Youth Action
In a message delivered by the United Nations Secretary -General’s Message, Mr Antonio Guterres, he applauded SMILE as a long-standing strategic partner and commended the creativity and resilience of young people worldwide.
“Global progress begins in communities,” the message stated. “Young people are bold innovators, resilient organisers, and essential partners in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Your voice, ideas, and leadership matter. Let us work together to support youth-led solutions and build a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world from the ground up.”
Showcasing Homegrown Innovators
A highlight of the summit was a panel session featuring change agents whose work directly accelerates the SDGs.
Ms. Ejiro Sharon Okotie, gender equality and social inclusion expert, brought over 12 years of global experience advancing gender justice and disability rights.
Glory Oguegbu, an Obama Scholar and award-winning climate specialist, shared her groundbreaking work in renewable energy, having trained 3,000 engineers and delivered solar power to over 25,000 homes and businesses.
Victor “Drybaby” Pashakin, an award-winning agribusiness consultant, was recognised for spearheading over 400 agricultural projects and inspiring the next generation of African agripreneurs.
Moderated by a banking professional with legal expertise, the session emphasised the power of grassroots innovation in driving community-level change.
Shaping the Future Through Mentorship and Collaboration
The summit underscored the belief that mentorship is not just guidance — it is a catalyst for transformation. Many speakers highlighted how intergenerational partnerships can open doors for young people, exposing them to networks, resources, and ideas that turn vision into reality.
SMILE’s Executive Mentoring Program for Youth, now in its 14th year, was spotlighted as a blueprint for scaling youth leadership across Nigeria. Graduates of the 2024/2025 cohort shared how mentorship had sharpened their skills, expanded their perspectives, and inspired them to take bold steps in their communities.
Changing the Narrative on Youth
In an interview, Mrs. Bimpe Bamgbose-Martins, SMILE’s Founder and President, made a passionate case for rethinking how society views young people.
“Too often, when people think about youth, they think about problems — unemployment, instability — instead of seeing them as assets and resources,” she said. “If we’re thinking about development and not prioritising our youth, we’re not going anywhere.”
She identified the scarcity of role models, the need for intergenerational understanding, and the importance of adaptability as key factors in unlocking youth potential.
A Day of Inspiration and Action
Beyond speeches, the summit featured skill-building workshops, career navigation sessions, the graduation of participants from the 2024/2025 Executive Mentoring Program for Youth, the launch of the Youth Lounge, a high-energy Pitch-a-Thon, and an awards ceremony honouring the Youth Mentor of the Year and Inspirational Youth of the Year.
From keynote addresses by Mr. Kola Oyeneyin and Mr. Idy Enang to lively networking sessions and cultural performances, the atmosphere was charged with optimism and resolve.
About S.M.I.L.E
For 14 years, the Strategy for Mentoring Initiative and Leadership Empowerment has championed youth empowerment through mentoring, leadership training, and community engagement. Its programs bridge the gap between ambition and execution, preparing a new generation of leaders who are emotionally intelligent, financially literate, tech-savvy, and committed to service.
As the day drew to a close, one sentiment echoed through the hall: this was not just an event, it was a movement and as SMILE’s President put it, “Together, let’s continue to evolve, to lead, and to build the future we all want to see.”
