SILEC Initiatives was formed in the year 2010 during my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Lagos state. It has been a glorious and life transforming experience for me and the entire SILEC family in the past decade.
Oh! What a journey it has been for us. As a person, God gave me this vision to help humanity when I was serving my fatherland. Our goal as an organization has been to rescue our teeming youths from the shackles of drugs and substance abuse. To empower them and make them realise their true potentials as nation builders.
*OUR VISION*
_Empowering the Youths for a Better Future_
*OUR MISSION*
_To Reach out to the Most Vulnerable Nigerian Youths via our Projects_
SILEC INITIATIVES area of interest are carefully selected and designed with strategic programmes and activities which focuses on four basic key project areas known as *PROJECT FOUR(4)-24* which forms the pivotal structures of meeting our set goals and objectives.
The four (4) basic projects include:
1. Drug Abuse Elimination Campaign Strategy.
2. Enlightenment on Sexual Molestation and Abuse of Children.
3. Culture and Language Preservation.
4. Youth Development and Empowerment.
The *24*, represents our cores values which needs to be re-injected into our generation and they include; Hardwork, Patience, Accountability, Honesty, Integrity, Good Morals, Respect for Traditions, Respect for Others, the Fear of God and many others e.t.c which are currently eroding us as a people.
In a situation where the morality of our youths have gone down abysmally to the extent that our value system has plummeted so low that some youths have gone to the extent of eating their excreta and going into rituals, robbery, fraud, drugs, banditry, thuggery and seriously sinking deep into cultism all in the name of making fast money and to live ostentatiously; This means that our society is doomed, if urgent steps are not taken to mitigate these scourges. The need to urgently expel these bad orientations from the mentality of our youths and to re-communicate and re-inject very effectively the right values and information to our young people is not later but now.
*OUR GOALS*
1) To drastically eliminate social vices such as drug abuse.
2) Reduce unemployment through capacity building, skill acquisitions and talents promotion.
3) To increase economic productivity and prosperity by way of promoting skills, talents and creativity amongst youths.
4) To reconnect with our value system and to work on re-orientation with high degree of patriotism inputted in every youth.
5) To imbibe a deep culture and language preservation techniques in our youths.
6) Providing leadership to young people.
From day-1, the journey hasn’t been smooth. We have passed through rough edges, we have weathered the storm, we have climbed mountains, and we have passed through turbulence and have overcame many physical, financial and psychological challenges in our quest to meet the needs of people and to transform lives for the good of the society.
Apart from my regular appearances on TV stations like TVC, AIT, NTA, Wazobia TV, Channels TV, Silverbird TV and many radio stations all across Lagos state and beyond in our work of sensitizing the populace-parents, youths and children on the dangers of drug abuse, youth empowerment, enlightenment on sexual knowledge for teens and culture preservation, we have been privileged to organized at least one programme per year since 2010 till date.
A summary of our programmes since 2010 till date are highlighted below:
– After the documentation of the idea of SILEC Initiatives in 2010, our inaugural programme took place that same year with the theme: *DRUG ABUSE, AN ENEMY THAT CRIPPLES ANY SOCIETY-NIGERIAN YOUTHS IN FOCUS*.
As a corps member then, I rallied round and share my Vision which attracted individuals like Ven David Olabisi Adebayo who gave me the initial support, I went further to convince the NYSC State coordinator, co-corpers, and other NYSC officials on the need to join me in pursuing my dream with the organisation of its maiden programme. Eventually, it turned out to be a huge success with great personalities such as the renowned stand-up comedian, Seyilaw and Chief Dr. Dele Momodu, the erudite scholar and chairman of Ovation Media Group in attendance as guest speakers. Their presence served as a motivation for me and team that day. The impact of the programme on the lives of students, community and youths was great. 21 repented from drug and substance abuse as a result of taking the campaign to streets with the willingness to be rehabilitated. After counselling, we then sent their names to NYSC for further transformation and rehabilitation.
After our first programme, we continued growing tremendously. My service year afforded us the platform and privileges to network and build relationships, which became instrumental for us to campaign against drugs and substance abuse in our locality where we have now gained more grounds and popularity.
– We eventually held our second sensitization programme in 2011, which happened to be our first open event after my service. It was awesome and it was tagged: *COMMUNITY REACH ON DRUGS* we reached out to the youths and teenagers in the slums in the community. We spoke with them heart-to-heart and many of them that were already on drugs had to repent from it. We spoke explicitly on the dangers of drugs and how it can ruin their futures. We saw that many of them were on the verge of going into drugs, smoking and gangsterism apparently due to their poor background and uncertainty of what tomorrow holds for them. After the gathering, we followed up with them and in the process, we were able to monitor their smooth transition from immorality to moral and ethical lifestyles.
– Apart from our daily interactions with the youths in our neighbourhoods and on social media, we held another meeting in 2012 captioned: *PRAISE TO RAISE CONCERT*. It was a concept designed to unveil the talents in our youths and to showcase what they could do. To our amazement, we saw different talents being manifested that year. It was a platform for all the youths present both students of MBHS to show their crafts, talents, creativity and gifts. In my humble capacity as the founder of SILEC Initiatives, I spoke directly to their hearts and there was a great connection between us and the audience with my live musical performance on stage with the *SILEC CREW*. I reminded them that they don’t have to allow their poor backgrounds to limit them from dreaming big. The great comedian, Seyilaw and Dayo Israel who was also our guest that day, also spoke passionately and motivated them with success story and that of others who made it big from poverty with their talents. Seyilaw in his funky manner cracked some funny jokes which spiced up the event. The Sad reality, some of the youths were already indoctrinated with a wrong mind-set and ideology that without going rogue and living as street urchins they won’t make it in life. We started the process of nurturing their talents in singing, dancing, playing of instrumentals, artistry and other natural traits that they displayed.
-In 2013, we organized a charity musical outreach at an orphanage home at *Oke-Ira, *Ajah*, where we provided voluntary counselling. It was a platform for musical performance to also help identify talents amongst the young ones. We were privileged to put smiles on their beautiful faces and changed their thought process with added values. We gave them hopes, showed them love, motivated and encouraged them to be focused, determined and to set life goals irrespective of their circumstances.
– In 2014, we continued our praises to God with the support of Asoliye Douglas West, a social commentator and a clergyman by organizing *PRAISES AND SMILES ENTERTAINMENT CONCERT FOR YOUTHS WITH TALENT.* Just like the previous concerts for talents discovery, the programme gave us a platform to discover more talents and to talk to the youths about their bright futures and what they can do to make their families proud and to be agent of changes in the society at large. We continued with our mentoring and counselling. Some that were on the brink of going into, drugs and unholy alliances with immoral friends were rescued with the right message of love, dangers of drug abuse, self-discovery and hopes for a better tomorrow.
-In 2015, after recording many successes, we gladly organized a traditional concert for youths with talents with the theme: *TRADITIONAL CONCERT FOR TALENT DEVELOPMENT AND NATIONAL UNITY*. Different artistes like Seyilaw, MC Aboki, Endi Zikki ,Koody Spice, Mayor etc were invited to share their success stories with comical reliefs. As comical experts and musicians, they left the audience with fond memories of how they made it from nothing to something, from zeros to heroes and from grass to grace.
The programme gave the participants the opportunity to relate with some established stars one-on-one in the showbiz world in Lagos and they were really motivated and inspired. They understood that drug abuse isn’t the way to go in pursuing their dreams as architects, lawyers, entertainers, bankers, pharmacists, doctors, engineers, footballers, athletes, nurses, corporate workers, politicians and the other professions that they can aspire for in the future. The occasion was graced by Rev. Yinka Yusuf, General Overseer, Household of Love Church, Rev. Asoliye Douglas West and was ably supported by Rev. Epenyong Bassey of Karis Music. As the host, my speech and musical performance with my crew with a blend of the Niger Delta style and traditional attire, kept all attendees refreshed and entertained. As a result of our emphatic success and uncommon testimonies in transforming lives, we were invited and happily received by the Delta State government under the Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa led administration after promoting Mr. Power Lee a Delta state born talented wrestler who SILEC promoted from 2010-2015 to win the African Wrestling Championship Title as part of our youth and talent development and promotion achievement. It a joyful experience to have been received by the Governor. This gave us a platform to reach out to more youths as we spoke to them about talent discovery and development.
– In our progressional steps, we staged another talents promotion and unveiling ceremony in 2016, where interaction with our students on talents development took another dimension as SILEC unveiled the “Framework of Silec to the General Public”. The roadmap was put forth in order for the general public to access our work and make their valuable contributions. The event was graced by community leaders, friends, old boys MBHS, Nigeria foremost artistes in the entertainment industry including Solo Urete, Mc Aboki, Mayor and Nollywood stars like Koody Spice and many others who thrilled the audience with their crafts.
– The year 2017 came like a mighty rushing wind with two solid programmes planned, one at MBHS tagged; DRUG ABUSE AN ENEMY THAT CRIPPLES ANY SOCIETY NIGERIAN YOUTH IN FOCUS (Part 2) after which the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) gave us an endorsement. The endorsement served as a stimulant and we also thought about our people in the south-south. The Niger Delta youths became our focus and our concern was on those that had been tormented and frustrated from the negative outcomes of social vices in the region. In our own little way, we organized a programme with the caption: *SAVE OUR YOUTHS, SAVE OUR ECONOMY.* It was a unique ceremony as we invited a lot of eminent personalities like the NDLEA State Commander and other influential personalities to join us to speak to the youths in order for them to understand their place in nation building and the roles they are to play in our collective struggle towards building the Nigeria of our dreams. The students of Delta State University, Asaba Campus were prominent in that meeting and they constituted a larger percentage of the audience. As an alumnus of Delta State University and also as a proud Deltan, I was at home with my people to make my own valuable contributions once again towards the development of Delta state as yours truly charged the temple with captivating and inspirational words that unravelled hidden potentials that are deposited in the students and other attendees.
Realising how important these young minds are, we made them to understand the vital and crucial roles they have as intellectuals in helping to shape the *”NIGERIAN PROJECT”* within the confines of their school and their immediate environment as stakeholders in the scheme of things in our march towards greatness as proud citizens of the federal republic of Nigeria. They were made to grasp the fact that the country and its future belongs to us and we must all be prepared physically, socially, spiritually, mentally, materially and intellectually to take over in the economy, politics, business, and leadership roles in all sectors of our nation. We emphasised that the university community is a breeding ground for great intellectuals that will shape the future of this country and the world at large. We made them to understand the powers of information at their disposal. They were meant to comprehend that they possess great influence in shaping and transforming their communities as role models in life, character reformers and problem solvers and that giving in to cultism, drug abuse, thuggery, fraud, drugs, prostitution and criminal activities are all enemies that endangers the life of students, the society and national development. Some actually felt that they weren’t important, because of the elites that have been governing us from independence, but their orientation changed after that day and they started preparing themselves for the next battles of leadership in all spheres of life having instilled that confidence in them that some of them could be inventors, researchers, ambassadors, workers in multinational companies, business moguls, and some would end up being local government chairmen, governors, senators, honourables and some might end up being the president of the country in different intervals and go on to affect lives nationally. They were charged and they became remorseful. Their orientations about life after school was changed and most of them vowed to change from their old ways of drug consumption, waywardness and studying lackadaisically without any hope in sight.
– Due to sterling performance of SILEC, in 2018, the ex-President of the Senate, Sen. (Dr) Abubakare Bukola Saraki through the office of his Special Assistance on New Media, Advocacy and International Relations Banks Omisore invited me and gave me a warm reception and his Boss message of appreciation on my resilience in nation building and eventually recommended me to the United States Embassy where Dr Philip Franz Seitz political office first secretary(Rtd) , gave me the breaking News of my selection that took me to the United State of America. I am always grateful to Dr Bukola Saraki, Dele Momodu and Banks Omisore.
We maintained our focus and decided to consolidate on our value based works and we staged another programme tagged *: OPERATION RESCUE NIGERIAN YOUTHS FROM DRUG ABUSE LEKKI-2018*
The campaign took a different approach with a focus on the religious community as the General Overseer, Household of Love Church Rev. Yinka Yusuf hit the ground running by giving us his platform to reach out to millions of people based on his position as the leading African evangelist of this time. We had a refreshing time with all guests including NDLEA officials, and everyone and with the level of information released coupled with music /comedy performances, kept them clue to their seats. The one-on-one counselling with those who indicated interest in the battle to overcome drugs recorded success as some were nursing the idea of going into drugs, thuggery and street lives to make ends meet; As usual, we were able to change their orientations about life.
-2019 ushered SILEC to the International space of relevance. In recognition of our good works in educating and rescuing youths from drug abuse and after the going through the recommendation from the then Senate president, the U.S government under president Donald J. Trump sent an invitation to me through the U.S Embassy to participate in the U.S Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs-IVLP in combating drug addiction and opioid crisis in Washington D.C. The international conference by that representation conferred on me the status as an ambassador against drug abuse. with the vigour and burning desire to make greater impart organised KICK-OUT DRUG ABUSE FROM NIGERIA FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT ADDO 2019 at the community level to help engage youths in sports activities which gave us the opportunity to sensitize all on the dangers of drug abuse with the support of the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, The Rt. Rev’d Dr. Humphrey Bamisebi Olumakaiye, a vision sharer.
COVID-19. 2020 our expectation very high as we commence school campaign against drugs in partnership with the U.S IVLP Alumni Association. But the outbreak of the global pandemic called coronavirus interrupted the activities of the human race upon our 10th anniversary but in all, in our own way we played our role in sensitization of citizens about the virus and how to maintain safety protocol. The lockdown of the economy brought untold hardship to Nigerians especially the vulnerable of which we floated our COVID-19 palliative project to provide stuffs to some part community of ikota low cost housing in eti-osa along ajah, Lagos to mark our 10th year anniversary.
The Journey wasn’t easy but GOD IS FAITHFUL.
I wish to thank everyone who had supported this initiative thus far.
As we believe in this same God that our next decade will be greater, please let’s do it again to help put Nigeria on the path of developed nations,
THANK YOU.
Amb. Sunny O, Irakpo,
(B.sc Hons.) Accounting,
President/Founder,
Silec Initiatives
An International Exchange Alumni,
U.S Department of State,
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Washington DC, USA.
