Layal Tinubu empowers over 500 Lagos students through the Noella Foundation’s Life After School Summit, boosting youth employability and digital skills
Layal Tinubu, through the Noella Foundation, has once again demonstrated her commitment to youth empowerment by hosting the second edition of the Life After School Summit (LAS2025) in Lagos — an inspiring event that brought together over 500 final-year students for a day of mentorship, skill-building, and career preparation.
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Held under the theme of employability and innovation, the 2025 edition of the summit featured expanded sessions on digital literacy and financial knowledge, designed to equip young Nigerians with the tools to thrive in today’s competitive workplace.
In her heartfelt opening remarks, Layal Tinubu reflected on the mission behind the initiative.
“As a mother and advocate for education, this moment is deeply personal to me,” she said.
“The Life After School Summit goes beyond CVs and interviews. It’s about giving students the mindset and skills to shape their own futures.”
The event featured a series of interactive workshops led by top professionals who guided students through personal branding, financial literacy, and essential digital skills.
Each participant also received a complimentary professional headshot to strengthen their online professional presence.
A powerful lineup of guest speakers including Bankole Williams, Kunle Afolayan, Mojisola Hunponu-Wusu, Stella Fubara, Aramide Abe and others delivered motivational sessions on authenticity, global competitiveness, and building meaningful careers.
Delivering a goodwill message, the Minister for Youth Development, Honourable Ayodele Olawande, urged students to combine values with discipline and competence.
He emphasised that the Noella Foundation’s initiative marks the beginning of a life-long journey of growth and contribution.
In a further show of government support, Charles Odii, Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), announced the facilitation of CAC registration for student-led ventures — a move aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship.
The Noella Foundation also rewarded academic excellence, presenting 42 laptops and 26 educational grants to outstanding students.
Many participants described the summit as transformative, with several sharing renewed confidence to navigate life beyond graduation.
A follow-up programme, the Life After School Bootcamp 2025, will select 250 students for a four-week employability accelerator, while the top 50 will advance to a Creative Workshop on storytelling, design thinking, and collaboration.
In his closing remarks, Seyi Tinubu, Chairman and Co-founder of the Noella Foundation, described the summit as a fast-growing national movement.
“Education doesn’t end when the school bells ring,” he said. “It begins when real questions start to emerge. With resilience and focus, we will continue to help young people find their way.”
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The Noella Foundation, co-founded by Layal Tinubu, remains steadfast in its mission to bridge the gap between education and employment by providing access, opportunity, and support for young Nigerians striving to realise their potential.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
