While serving as a Youth Corps member in a remote village in Edo state, Nigeria, Ajayi Oluwafunminiyi birthed the idea of Read and Think Initiative. On discovering that most students in the rural community lacked purpose and a sense of direction, Ajayi thought of a way to promote literacy and career awareness among the young students. According to him, “Some saw no reason for schooling, some others perceived it as punishment and this made teaching and learning difficult and ultimately the purpose of schooling was defeated.”
Ajayi, a graduate of Transport Management from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and a member of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport whose core area of skills are research and data analysis put his research skills to use in figuring out the challenges facing these students and the best way to reach them.
Ajayi Oluwafunminiyi
Ajayi discovered that many people find themselves on the wrong job and live below their true potentials because of the choices they made earlier on without the right information. He conducted a survey to sample the opinions of students concerning their reasons for being in school and the factors influencing their choice of career. With the understanding he now has, he is driven to help others especially students who still have the chance to get it right early. He has been able to reach out to about 1000 students through the initiative’s monthly outreaches to schools. The aim of the initiative is to “promote literacy and career awareness by sensitizing, enlightening, re-orientating and motivating students in order to prepare them for purposeful scholarship and resourceful citizenry.”
The initiative held its first campaign across three villages. Ajayi says, “Apart from the sensitization, there was an essay competition where the winner won a scholarship. An indigent but talented J.S.S 1 student was also awarded a scholarship. This was a huge success and the experience motivated me to do more when I left the village.”
The initiative projects to reach out to at least 100,000 Nigerian students on a yearly basis in both rural and urban centers. The initiative plans to organize a yearly essay and debate competitions on topical issues bothering on career choices and self-awareness among schools where winners will be rewarded. In addition to that the initiative also aims to reach out to the less privileged by sponsoring the education of truly indigent students who exhibit a great deal of talent and potential such that such talents do not just go to waste and intends to do this on a yearly basis.
Ajayi added that he has an understanding of the talent mix and personality traits. Using the analysis of John Holland’s theory of personality types, he realizes he is a social type. He falls into the category of people who like to teach and address people. He enjoys doing this a lot and according to him it is his area of strength. With a positive outlook on the future and a determination to create a positive change in his society, Ajayi says, “Our next plan is to reach out to physically impaired students. We realize they face tremendous challenges in learning, so we intend to contribute the little we can in making resources available to them.”
To volunteer or donate to this initiative, contact @Ajayi Julius Oluwafunminiyi on Facebook.
