…launches new Book to equip young people for Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Societal Impact
By Adebayo Adenrele
An Ekiti-born growth advocate and youth development enthusiast, Ayodeji Ayoade Ifenikalo, has unveiled a non-governmental organisation under the auspices of Generation 30 Impact (GEN30 Impact), dedicated to preparing young people for purposeful leadership, entrepreneurship and societal transformation.
GEN30 Impact is a movement dedicated to equipping young people under 30 for leadership, entrepreneurship, personal growth and societal impact.
The unveiling took place in Ado-Ekiti during the inaugural GEN30 Impact Summit, themed “The Rise of GEN30: Becoming Before Doing,” where Ifenikalo also launched a new book titled: “Maximizing Your Life’s Seasons: Understanding Your Time, Purpose and Potential”, designed to equip young people with practical principles for personal growth, leadership and nation-building.
The summit convened young leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers below the age of 30, aimed at equipping them with the mindset, character and strategic capacity required to drive sustainable personal and societal transformation.
Speaking at the event, the convener described GEN30 Impact as more than an organisation, saying it was the fulfilment of a divine vision born out of years of mentoring and working closely with young people.
According to him, while many young people possess exceptional talents and skills, a significant number lack the preparation, direction and purpose required to maximise emerging opportunities.
Ifenikalo noted that the greatest challenge confronting today’s generation is not a shortage of talent but inadequate preparation.
He lamented that many young people wait endlessly for opportunities they have not prepared themselves to seize, revealing that the inspiration behind GEN30 Impact came after what he described as a divine instruction to move beyond motivation to intentional preparation.
According to him, while motivational messages have become commonplace, many fail to produce lasting results because they are not backed by structured preparation.
He explained that GEN30 Impact was established to intentionally prepare young people below the age of 30 with the principles, purpose and capacity required to launch impactful ideas and provide transformational leadership.
He noted that the organisation would achieve its vision through annual summits, structured learning programmes and a community-driven mentorship model.
The initiative, he said, would guide participants through four stages of transformation, Discovery, Development, Deployment and Multiplication.
According to him, beneficiaries would eventually become mentors themselves, creating a cycle of leadership development capable of transforming communities and future generations.
His words, “What you are witnessing today is not simply the product of planning, strategy or human ability. It is the fulfilment of the calling that God placed in my heart.
“I have listened to their dreams and celebrated their gifts. But I also witnessed something that deeply troubled me.
“There is a generation full of potential and skills, yet many lack direction. Many have not yet had the courage to discover their true purpose or tell their stories.
“Quoting one of my mentors, he said ‘If you don’t prepare for the future, it will embarrass you when you get there’ and that has became a guiding principle in my life.
“It is often said that the opportunity of a lifetime must be seized within the lifetime of the opportunity, yet I have seen my generation miss life-changing opportunities simply because they failed to prepare themselves.
“God impressed something upon my heart that I have never forgotten. He said, ‘Do not just inspire young people, prepare them.’
“There are many motivational speakers who inspire people, but God said to me, ‘Prepare them.’ That instruction changed everything.
“We need young men and women who understand purpose, develop competence, embrace discipline, uphold integrity and are ready to solve problems.
“Our commitment is to help young people move from discovering purpose to developing potential, deploying their gifts and ultimately multiplying their impact across generations”.
Also speaking, former Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District and Chairman of the occasion, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, commended the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention in youth development.
He congratulated Ifenikalo for initiating the platform and expressed confidence that the impact of the organisation would be felt for generations.
Addressing participants, Ojudu urged young people to maximise every opportunity that comes their way, stressing that success is a gradual process built on learning, consistency and resilience.
He advised participants to deliberately seek mentorship from individuals who have attained the level of success they aspire to reach.
The former presidential adviser also emphasised the importance of character, insisting that integrity remains more valuable than talent, encouraging young people to take responsibility for their future, embrace hard work and look beyond conventional white-collar employment.
“I have succeeded in mentoring many people and I have also failed to mentor many others. Success does not come overnight; it is a gradual process.
“If you do not know how to get somewhere, attach yourself to people who are already there or who know the way.
“It is better to be honest than merely talented. Without character, you cannot go far. Let your character go ahead of you.
“Take your lives seriously. Take your future into your own hands. Work for yourself. You are not too big to do anything. Money lies in those little things you are overlooking. Degrees alone do not feed you; you need to work.
“I want to congratulate Ife for gathering young people together to mentor them. History will remember you for good”. He added
On his part, public speaker and change advisor, Dr. Gbenga Emiloju congratulated Ifenikalo for the book launch, saying the Book is full of practical experiences that can help individuals navigate their lives successfully.
He urged the participants to maximise the opportunities available to them in order to make greater impact in the future.
The book titled: “Maximizing Your Life’s Seasons: Understanding Your Time, Purpose and Potential” takes readers on a transformative journey of self-discovery, purpose, leadership, service and personal growth.
Drawing from biblical wisdom, leadership principles, real-life experiences and practical insights, the author reveals how understanding life’s seasons can help you make better decisions, maximize opportunities, overcome challenges and build a life of lasting impact.
Also, Business Strategist, Isaac Ajisafe urged the participants to discover their hidden potentials, unleash their strength, develop their capacity and sharpen their values in order to become persons of impact.
