In a bid to strengthen community impact and promote youth-driven social development, a Non-Governmental Organization, Skillful Minds Wholesome Initiative for Women and Children (SMWIWC), is partnering with Corpers’ Journey Advocacy Network (CJAN), a youth-centered platform dedicated to promoting civic engagement and leadership among young Nigerians.
Speaking in an interview, the Team Lead of SMWIWC, Damilola Oluwasola, said the proposed partnership aims to bridge the gap between youth advocacy and community empowerment for women and children across Nigeria.
“We see that Corpers’ Journey Advocacy Network is youth-centered organizations, while Skillful Minds Wholesome Initiative focuses on women and children, youth inclusive. We believe the partnership will help foster the total development of society, as all these groups are interlinked,” Oluwasola said.
According to her, the collaboration will help both organizations achieve shared objectives such as increased visibility, community mobilization, and long-term sustainability.
She noted that through the partnership, SMWIWC hopes to gain a wider platform for advocacy, drive public awareness on key social issues, and attract more volunteers to support their programs.
“It will also help us build a stronger community network capable of driving bigger projects in the future,” she added.
Since its inception in August 2021, SMWIWC has positively impacted over a thousand women and children across several Nigerian states through various educational and empowerment initiatives.
Some of the organization’s key achievements include training over 50 secondary school students in creative writing through the Skillful Minds Book Club, organizing The Breakingforth, an annual interschool spoken-word competition, and providing laptops, school bags, and educational materials to outstanding participants.
Beyond education, the NGO has also reached rural communities and Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, where it offers counseling to women, promotes proper hygiene practices among nursing mothers and pregnant women, and provides welfare items and food support.
Oluwasola added that children under the initiative’s programs also receive free copies of her books — Never Too Late and The Priceless Possession — as part of efforts to encourage reading culture and literary development.
She emphasized that the partnership with Corpers’ Journey would further amplify these impacts by connecting youth-driven advocacy with community-focused humanitarian work.
“With proper funding and strategic collaboration, we hope to expand our reach to more communities within Nigeria, across Africa, and beyond,” she said.
Oluwasola, who has consistently advocated for gender equality, education, and talent development, also expressed her willingness to collaborate with CJAN on thematic areas aligned with her organization’s focus.
“In terms of expertise, you can always invite me as a guest for your events that align with our thematic areas such as education, gender equality, and career development. If there’s any program that fits into our scope, we would gladly partner after reviewing your mapped-out plans,” she concluded.
Responding to the development, the Managing Director of Corpers’ Journey Advocacy Network, Taiwo Ajayi, described the partnership as a progressive move that aligns with the platform’s mission of preparing young Nigerians for meaningful careers and civic engagement.
“At Corpers’ Journey, our focus has always been on bridging the gap between employability and graduates’ transition into the labour world,” Ajayi said.
“Over the years, we’ve trained corps members and recent graduates in employability, civic leadership, and personal development. Partnering with Skillful Minds will help us expand that impact, particularly in areas like education, gender advocacy, and youth empowerment.”
Ajayi emphasized that the partnership represents a shared vision of national development driven by youth and community collaboration.
“We believe that empowering women, children, and young graduates is not just social work, it’s nation-building. When young people are supported with the right tools, mentorship, and opportunities, they become active contributors to Nigeria’s growth,” he added.
