An agreement between the Nigerian government and the United Nations aims to align its development priorities with those of civil society organizations and the private sector to achieve the sustainable development goal together. Since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2015, Nigeria has continued to demonstrate its interest in achieving the global goals, but the implementation has been rated low creating disharmony between their words and action.
The 2019 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) index ranked Nigeria 159th among 162 countries, showing that the country has not made adequate plans towards a better and more sustainable future for its citizens. In 2019, an estimated 91.8 million of the Nigerian population lived in extreme poverty, with the prospect of an increased 95.7 million in 2022.
In the Nigerian city of Jos, Toyin Wiggins arose with the vision of raising a generation that will, through leadership, take ownership of implementing the SDG goals in Nigeria. This dream conceived the organization called the Changemakers, later renamed the Toyin Wiggins Center for Leadership and Mentorship Initiative in 2012.
“Providing mentorship to young African leaders is essential. Through mentorship, current young Africans may not only be able to go far but also broaden their horizons. We utilize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve this, focusing especially on eradicating poverty, and Goal 4, which emphasizes quality education and mental skills development,” Wiggins told Prime Progress.
Running with the vision of raising purposeful and knowledgeable emerging leaders, they are also on a mission to enhance leadership potential among young Africans.
“Yearly, TWLCI hosts a leadership conference, bringing together young leaders from different local government areas. This conference serves as a platform for networking, learning, and personal growth,” she said.
Participants at the conference include select students from secondary schools and tertiary institutions who are mentored to focus on one or more SDGs. These participants usually return to enhance their communities with the lessons they gleaned from the conference.
Wiggins emphasized how her organization strives to achieve an impact on every young person, part of which includes visiting the deserted communities. “We train the internally displaced children so that when they transition from their homes, they have economic power to sustain themselves. We also taught them how to play chess to strengthen their mental capacities.”
According to Wiggins, a major approach they take is to influence influential and rich people to give back to their people. We receive funds from friends. If we have more funds, we will be able to do more and increase our reach. Some of the facilitators assist the children in taking their external exams. We ensure that these facilitators are from the communities. We make it an eye-opener for them, as they believe they are giving back to their society, she said.
TWLCI’s impact extends beyond Jos, however. In Bassa Local Government Area, within Plateau State, 25 girls were empowered with ICT and entrepreneurship skills.
Enlightenment on leadership is another cornerstone of TWLCI’s work. Through targeted initiatives, it educates teenagers on leadership principles and engages them in activities that boost critical thinking and strategic planning skills.
Amid its financial constraints, TWLCI relies largely on funds from friends and partnerships with facilitators that support its initiatives. However, the organization has sought grants and more partnerships.
With 5 staff members and 32 volunteers, the organization has reached more than 28 thousand young people in and outside Plateau state.
Looking ahead, Wiggins envisions a future where the young leaders she nurtures will be established and make a positive impact in their communities. She hopes to see her alumni extending their knowledge and transforming lives in 10 years.
“We believe that the young people we have invested in will already be established and actively changing narratives in their communities. We want to see them extending their knowledge to pour into others. If they get it right, our nations will be moving in the right direction,” Wiggins said.
An agreement between the Nigerian government and the United Nations aims to align development priorities with civil society organizations and the private sector to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite adopting the SDGs in 2015, Nigeria has struggled with implementation, ranking 159th out of 162 countries on the 2019 SDG index, with a significant portion of its population living in extreme poverty.
In Jos, Nigeria, Toyin Wiggins founded the Changemakers organization, now known as the Toyin Wiggins Center for Leadership and Mentorship Initiative (TWLCI), in 2012 to mentor young African leaders. The organization focuses on eradicating poverty and enhancing education and mental skills development. TWLCI hosts annual leadership conferences and trains participants from secondary schools and tertiary institutions on various SDGs, who then contribute positively to their communities.
TWLCI's impact includes training internally displaced children and empowering girls with ICT and entrepreneurship skills. The organization emphasizes the importance of influential individuals giving back to their communities. Despite financial constraints, TWLCI has reached over 28,000 young people with the help of five staff members and 32 volunteers. Looking ahead, Wiggins envisions a future where the alumni of her programs are established leaders making positive changes in their communities.
