Creating social Impact - LEAP Africa charges youth on social innovation

LAGOS, Nigeria - Oct. 28, 2015 - PRLog -- LEAP (Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism) Africa, a leading nonprofit organisation in Nigeria will announce emerging social innovators finalists at the Social Innovators Programme and Awards ( SIPA) 2015 in Abuja on November 12, 2015 themed Rage for Change: Creating Impact.

According to Iyadunni Olubode, Executive Director, LEAP Africa, ‘Social innovation is a way to improve the world by addressing social problems creatively. Nigerian youth live through these challenges, they understand them and are therefore uniquely positioned to develop solutions that are effective, easily replicable and sustainable.’

Funded by Union Bank and supported by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, the Awards celebrates young social innovators, who have crafted solutions that improve the quality of life in rural communities and urban cities in Nigeria. Through interventions in health, agriculture, environment, ICT and other sectors, these change makers are creating value and contributing to Nigeria’s development.

On November 12, 2015 LEAP Africa is using the SIA platform to showcase and recognize their efforts at an awards ceremony in Abuja. It will give most outstanding Fellows awards for astounding work in 2015. Iyadunni further adds, that “the SIPA 2015 is bringing together individuals and organizations from six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and hosting them in Abuja to celebrate diversity, creativity, excellence and social change by these young changemakers.”.

In collaboration with the International Youth Foundation, the Social Innovators Programme through a one year fellowship provides capacity building and networking opportunities to selected group of young Nigerians, to enable them become sustainable. LEAP will also announce the new of 20 young social entrepreneurs from over 455 change makers who applied for the 2015/2016 fellowship.

Leading the conversation at the events are LEAP’s past awardees and other notable social entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Former recipients of LEAP Awards include Michael Iyanro; Esther Agbarakwe; Gbenga Sesan; Toyosi Akerele; Tolu Sangosanya; Oladipupo Ajiroba; Idris Abdullahi; Bosun Abayomi and Okelola Olumayokun. The SIPA 2015 in its third edition continues to inspire larger communities of youth in Nigeria and beyond.

About LEAP Africa

Leadership Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa, established in 2002, is a non-profit committed to developing dynamic innovative and principled African leaders. We recognize that raising leaders is critical to nation building and wealth creation. Over the years, LEAP has inspired and equipped youth, business owners and social entrepreneurs to lead ethically while implementing initiatives that transform their communities and organizations for better; sustaining livelihood and contributing to national development. LEAP achieves this through its training programmes, publications and eLearning.

About the Social Innovators Programme (SIP) and Awards

The Social Innovators Programme is a one year fellowship which supports talented young social innovators, whose ideas and initiatives offer effective and creative solutions to challenges in local communities across Nigeria. Through training and strategic support systems, the Fellows are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to sustain and scale up their impact. At an annual Awards, LEAP presents the ‘Most Outstanding Fellow’ in recognition and celebration of youth, creativity and social change. The programme is funded by Union Bank in partnership with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and the International Youth Foundation (IYF).

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