TOYOSI AKERELE
Founder/CEO
toyosirise@risenetworks.org
Toyosi Akerele is a respected inspirational and mindful young leader who is celebrated for National Leadership in the service of a larger cause.
A worthy alumnus of the United States Government’s Prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program for emerging Leaders, she was in June of 2011 described by Mrs. Michelle Obama the First Lady of the United States as one of her personal inspirations in a televised address to America as a prelude to her arrival in Africa for the Young African Women Leaders Forum of which Toyosi remains the only Nigerian member till date.
Toyosi, who has spent most of her growing years shaping Nigerian Communities where Youth Education and Capacity Building can help ensure National Development is a respected advisor, content expert and commentator on issues of Entrepreneurship, Education and Governance. She is thoughtful, reflective, strengthens others through shared vision, insights and perspectives to look at the world in a different way. She is a creative problem solver highly skilled in attracting and sustaining Return on Investment in Business Ventures and she is a strong communicator with ability to present messages and influence diverse audiences.
Renowned for her objectivity and no-holds-barred approach to development issues, Toyosi is the Founding Executive Director of RISE NETWORKS, a Leading Social Enterprise in Nigeria. She conceptualized and designed effective programs to deepen the links and learning opportunities for Young people in knowledge acquisition, Enterprise and Nation Building. The RISE National Youth Forum, the flagship project of RISE NETWORKS has attracted hundreds of thousands of Young People in over 20 Nigerian States in the last 5years.
An instinctive entrepreneur and consummate young professional, Toyosi’s leadership skills were recognized early in 2007 when she was selected as one of the 101 Young African Leaders by the African Business Leaders Forum of the Business in Africa Magazine.
Toyosi has been actively involved in National and International projects and processes on the need to provide a platform for youth inclusion in policy formulation and implementation.
An accomplished writer, author and public speaker, Toyosi’s thought leadership is evident in her first book, STRATE-TRICKS {strategies and tricks, the winning formula for emerging businesses} and other writings and interviews published in a wide variety of journals, newspapers and magazines, including the Nation, the Guardian, Punch and This Day.
She has spoken and delivered Papers at numerous venues including the Nigerian Economic Summit, Wimbiz 10th Anniversary Forum, Youth Africamp organized annually by Open Society Institute of East Africa and the United Nations Media Workshop on Africa Governance Report. Her media commentary and interviews include appearances on Channels Television, Nigerian Television Authority, Africa Independent Television and South Africa Broadcasting Corporation.
Toyosi is the recipient of numerous awards including recent recognition by Crans Montana Forum in Europe as a 2012 New Leader of Tomorrow, 2012 This Day Awards for Nigeria’s Women of Distinction, Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 of Success Digest Entrepreneurial Awards, The 2011 Excellence Awards of the School of Media and Communication, Pan African University, The 2008 Future Awards Best Use of Advocacy Category and the 2007 Nigerian Youth Leadership Awards jointly organized by Leap Africa, International Youth Foundation and NOKIA.
With a huge expanse of knowledge and experience in Human Resource, Media, Marketing, Enterprise Risk and Project Management, Toyosi is also a Business savvy Executive as she has vested interests in a world class Printing Firm with state of the art equipments and topnotch staff strength. As a result of the company’s insistence on global best practices and excellent standards in Quality, its Services have been useful to Multinationals, Corporate Organizations and Public Institutions.
Toyosi was born and raised in Nigeria, received a 2nd Class Upper Bachelors’ degree in Civil Law from the University of Jos, obtained a Certificate in Youth Inclusive Financial Services from University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA, holds a Certificate in Media Enterprise from the School of Media and Communication, Pan African University and an Executive Masters’ Certificate in Project Management from The Project Management College, UK.
Toyosi enjoys travelling, writing, brainstorming, dancing and is a long time collector of all genres of music.
GRIFFIN OLAJIDE
Administrative Manager
Olajide Griffin is currently the Business Development Executive of the RISE Group.
Olajide is a graduate of Accountancy at The Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State. He began his working career with Teju Specialist Hospital as an Account Clerk in charge of the financial records of the organisation and shortly thereafter moved to Planet One Entertainment as the Credit Control Executive where he recorded notable achievements including implementing effective cost and credit control for the organisation. With his vast administrative and Managerial skill, he became the Head of the Account Unit.
He is currently a student of the University of Lagos Masters’ Degree Program.
UFUOMA BUBU
Communications Executive
Ufuoma is an enterprising graduate of Theatre Arts from Delta State University Abraka, Nigeria. His commitment to leadership and excellence had shown from his undergraduate days where he represented the department of Performing Arts at the Student Union Government. He was also a member of the committee that set up the Faculty of Arts Students Association in Delsu. He started his working career with Net-Access Communications as a Business Development Executive, from where he moved to British American Tobacco as HR Assistant to the Talent Team. At BAT, he organized interviews and managed communications to candidates for the BATN Management Trainee Recruitment for the year 2010.
He is a member of Chartered Institute of Personnel Management Nigeria. He is also an alumnus of After School Graduate Development centre/Samsung Real Dreams Programme.
GRACE AMALU
Customer Service/Executive Assistant to the CEO
Grace is a graduate of Economics from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria. Her belief in contributing to the society led her to volunteer with First Business School immediately after her National Service year, where she managed the school’s database . She holds a certificate from the above mentioned school.
She is also an alumnus of LEAP Africa’s Integrity Institute and Microsoft Employability Programme.