Kunle Olaifa Internship Program

The Kunle Olaifa Leadership Internship Program (KOLIP) is an effort to identify exceptional young Nigerian leaders and enable them discover, practise and refine their leadership qualities. Launched in 2015, the KOLIP was conceived in honor of an outstanding Associate Fellow of NLI (AFNLI), Kunle Olaifa who died in a car accident on August 19, 2014. Kunle Olaifa, in life, manifestly demonstrated passion to empower the youth. Kunle was selfless in his service to make a difference through skilled workforce in Nigeria. He was reputable for the values of integrity, hard work, selfless service, humility, and giving back to society. He made significant contributions to NLI's ability to drive positive change while also epitomizing NLI's values. He was a mentor to many young people in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.

Each year, NLI selects an outstanding young Nigerian from the best performing NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) corps members who distinguished themselves through their national service. Through a six-month internship and mentorship, the KOLIP Fellows receive a unique opportunity to gain practical experience while improving their employability skills and leadership qualities. NLI entered into strategic partnerships with NYSC Lagos, Main One Cable and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to facilitate this program which empowers the next generation of young leaders who can create impact for positive change.

2015 KOLIP FELLOW – AYOMIDE OLUKOYA

Ayomide Olukoya is a Project Management Specialist with an engineering, construction and transportation background. An M.Sc. degree holder, in Finance and Investment from Cass Business School in UK, Ayomide graduated with first class honours in Telecoms Engineering from King's College, London. Among several other candidates, she was selected to participate UK's 2010 Transport for London (TfL) Electrical Engineering Graduate Scheme. She was also a Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Ambassador empowering BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) youth. In conjunction with STEM and Smallpiece Trust, Ayomide organized engineering camps for young students. During her NYSC program, Ayomide received an award for a project, titled "Back to School Happy (BSH) Initiative", to inspire enthusiasm in pupils as they return back to school for a new academic year. She has expressed a strong commitment to taking the BSH Initiative to a wider group of students even after her NYSC program. Ayomide was selected as a KOLIP Fellow in December 2015 and underwent a six-month internship at Main One Cable. Due to her remarkable performance, Ayomide was offered full-time employment at Main One Cable as a project Management Officer.

2016 KOLIP FELLOW - KEHINDE FADARE

Kehinde Fadare is a graduate of History and International studies, a member of Toastmasters International and a student member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. He was among 104 young people selected across eight West African countries in March 2016 for the President Barack Obama West African Young African Leadership Initiative (in Accra, Ghana), where he was awarded the most creative participant. During his NYSC program, Kehinde initiated and executed the "Give a Wheelchair Lagos" Project through which he presented 15 wheelchairs and clothes to 15 randomly selected physically challenged people in Lagos, thereby exceeding the project's initial target by about 91%. He also led a team of seven individuals to donate 20 desks and 20 chairs to pupils of Shogunle Nursery and Primary school, Ikeja, Lagos, so as to make learning more conducive for them. In further pursuance of his desire to make impact, Kehinde voluntarily trained about 400 students of Babs Fafunwa Senior Secondary School, Ojodu, Lagos on "Effective Public Speaking skills." Kehinde was selected as a KOLIP Fellow in July 2016 and has begun a 6-month internship at PwC.