THRiVE HUB

Happy International Women’s Day! Today, we honor the strength, resilience, and brilliance of women everywhere. You are the leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping a better world. Your courage, passion, and impact inspire generations. Keep thriving, keep breaking barriers, and keep shining! ✨ ❤️ #InternationalWomensDay #WomenWhoThrive #EmpoweredWomenEmpowerTheWorld

Nobody is coming to do it for you. Your growth is on you. Take the leap, push your limits, and make things happen. You’ve got this and we've got you. 💪❤️

Welcome to the month of March!!🥳❤️ Happy New Month from THRiVE. ✨💫

Greatness knows no boundaries! No matter where you start, what truly matters is the vision, resilience, and determination you bring to the journey. From the smallest places, the biggest dreams can take flight, and extraordinary impact can be made. Keep pushing, keep believing, and keep thriving!🤩

Let’s face it —landing your first job can feel like a daunting task. For years, we’ve been told that earning a degree is the only golden ticket you need to success. Someone deceived us! 😃 The future of work is here, and it’s demanding more than just degrees. Employers today are looking for something deeper—something that doesn’t always show up on a transcript. They’re asking questions like: Can you think critically and solve problems in real time? Are you adaptable in an ever-changing workplace? Do you have the communication skills to collaborate across diverse teams? Can you demonstrate initiative and a willingness to learn? These are the traits that make candidates stand out—especially at the entry level. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about showing potential. Employers know that technical skills can be taught, but curiosity, resilience, and a growth mindset? Those are invaluable. The future of work is evolving rapidly, and it’s not just about what you know—it’s about how you apply it. Degrees may open doors, but it’s your skills, mindset, and drive that will keep those doors open. To every entry-level job seeker out there: You’ve got this. Focus on building yourself into the kind of candidate who doesn’t just meet expectations but exceeds them in ways no one saw coming. The future of work may be demanding more—but you too, my friend, are up to the task! 💪 P.S: THRiVE HUB's LaunchPad Fellowship application opens soon!

"The Future of Work is here and It's demanding more than just degrees" If you'd love to be a part of a move committed to lowering the barriers that exist for the upward social and economic mobility of young people, here is your chance! We are recruiting young, passionate people that are determined to make a change in the world. Come join us! Application closes on 27th January.

The recent stat showing Nigeria’s official unemployment rate at 5.3%, may seem like a positive shift, but it has made me reflect on a conversation with Idris Taiwo about the true implications behind these numbers. With the new methodology from the NBS, any activity that generates income now counts as employment — regardless of whether it’s a full-time job, a few hours of driving a ride-share, or selling small goods on the side. So, for example, a young graduate selling phone recharge cards on the street corner, or a mechanic who only gets a few repair jobs a week, is now considered “employed.” But here’s the question: can we genuinely call this economic stability? Many young people in Nigeria are juggling these small gigs because they can’t find full-time jobs that pay a livable wage. They’re “employed” by definition, but in reality, they’re doing whatever they can to get by. At THRiVE HUB, we see this first-hand, as many of the young people we work with are often underemployed (according to this definition) — willing and ready to work more hours, to develop their skills, and to contribute meaningfully. They need opportunities that go beyond survival. We believe in creating pathways to work that doesn’t just "count" as employment but actually builds livelihoods and futures. Through our partnerships with host organizations, we’re helping young people access real job experience, develop networks, and secure positions that offer stability and growth. The real goal should be creating work that people can build their lives around — work that provides a steady income, career growth, and security. If our focus is only on lowering the unemployment rates, without addressing the quality and stability of jobs, then are we truly making progress? These are my random musings today.

Your experience of THRiVE has been possible by the inputs of many partners and key players. Hence, as we wrap up the year, we want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our incredible partners who've been with us every step of the way! First up, we're shining the spotlight on Cardify Africa ! With Cardify Africa, users have the freedom to deposit money into popular wallets and take advantage of flexible conversion options both within and outside the system. Thank you, Cardify, for your unwavering support and commitment to what we do at THRiVE. We're honored to have you as part of our ecosystem. Here's to many more exciting collaborations in the years to come!

Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to speak with young, driven individuals at the THRiVE HUB Cafe in Abeokuta, where we explored the Art of Persistence; Staying Motivated After Setbacks. Everyone who knows me knows I love to share insights and best practices from my lived experiences. In my session, we examined what persistence truly means; it’s more than just pushing through obstacles. Persistence involves transforming each setback into an opportunity for growth. As Winston Churchill puts it, “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm”, I shared my own journey through rejections from schools, scholarships, and job opportunities, which became chances to build resilience, refine my approach, and clarify my goals. Every setback brought valuable feedback, often leading to a stronger understanding of my path and eventually opening doors I hadn’t even considered. During an activity focused on cultivating a growth mindset, the participants reflected on recent challenges and noted the lessons they learnt. Sharing these insights with each other was a reminder of how our setbacks shape and strengthen us, pushing us to new levels of growth. For resilience to thrive, I shared how important it is to balance professional pursuits with personal passions, celebrate even the smallest wins, and avoid unnecessary comparisons. Taking intentional breaks, welcoming feedback, and staying rooted in their “why” can make all the difference in building sustainable persistence. A big thank you to Olatomiwa OLUSESI and the THRiVE HUB team for this meaningful experience for young people. I look forward to more spaces like this that encourage young people to view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth.

As remote work continues to reshape how we work, one question I keep asking myself is “What is lost when our interactions are filtered through screens?” At THRiVE HUB, we believe that young people, especially those at the beginning of their careers, benefit profoundly from in-person experiences. There’s a unique transformative power in face-to-face connections— learning that transcends skills, deeply rooted in being present, shared spaces, and unspoken cues. This is why we advocate for hybrid working environments for the young people we serve. By blending remote and in-person experiences, we believe they can enjoy the flexibility of virtual work while also benefiting from the irreplaceable value of presence. Our goal is to immerse young people in environments where they can learn not just how to work, but why they work, and with whom. It is in learning, listening, and growing side by side that we build not only careers but connections that last a lifetime. Picture: Last weekend at the THRiVE Cafe, Abeokuta. Registration is still ongoing for the Cafe in Ile-Ife, coming up on 16th November By God's Grace. Link to apply: www.thrivehub.ng/the-cafe