When we started preparing for the Youth in Creativity event, the goal wasn’t to host another program. Our team agreed from day one: we wanted to build a system, not a moment.
A community, not a crowd.
A relationship, not an event.
One of the first decisions we made was choosing the right place to begin this journey. We chose YABATECH (Yaba College of Technology) not because we were searching for a school, but because its history aligns with who we are.
BHLA has always been about history, culture, empowerment and building things that last. YABATECH, with its legacy as Nigeria’s first higher institution and its strong foundation in technical, practical training, carries the kind of history and relevance that resonates deeply with our mission. It was the ideal place to gather young creatives, a place rooted in culture, innovation and generations of talent. And so we built the Youths In Creativity Initiative around real challenges young people face, not what looks good on a programme sheet.
We aligned with speakers, partners, and government leaders to ensure the conversations were honest, grounded and beneficial. There were long nights spent adjusting logistics, tightening plans, and saying, “We can make this better.”
On December 3rd, as the room filled up, it became clear that the work was worth it. We saw youths show up with genuine hunger for direction and opportunity. We saw them ask questions that showed honesty, confusion, ambition and hope.
We watched our speakers
@ugo007makeme @bimpeonakoya Anita Asianya
@theokem_ @kidbaby101 @taymib @aeromati @omosalewa_o @tope_horpload @kleenupcosmetics and
@thrivegreenmedia speak from experience, not theory. And we had leaders in the room — the Chief of Staff to the Governor
@tayoakinmadeayinde , the Commissioner for Youth
@mobolajiogunlende , delegate from the U.S. Consulate, the Chairman of Onigbongbo, and more — who didn’t just make appearances, but listened.
