LAGOS, (The Southern African Times) – The continent’s youthful population presents a powerful opportunity for accelerated economic growth and innovation while other world regions face an aging population with subsequent issues such as high health costs for elderly care and high demand for skilled and qualified labour. – Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, United Nations.
These words complement the basis for which Unboxed Conferences convened the YP event. Starting with YPLAGOS in 2015, Unboxed Conferences has facilitated opportunities to connect top level executives with young professionals, thereby initiating a much needed mentoring process. Much needed because it’s proven that 80% of young professionals do not have a mentor.
The 2015 edition of YPLAGOS had 50 mentors engaging with 500 young professionals who are young graduates 35 years and below. This initial mentoring process held with a mentor having breakfast with 10 young professionals. Introductions are made, experiences shared, questions asked and solutions proffered.
Since then, 260 top level executives have engaged in a mentoring relationship with over 2900 young professionals. In June 2020, Unboxed in responding to the disruption brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, held that year’s edition virtually. Held over two Saturdays with 80 leading professionals engaging over 600 young professionals, Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo delivered the opening remarks. He described it as a “forum of boundless opportunities and possibilities.”
Buoyed by the experience and ability of having both mentees and mentors join from anywhere in 2020, Unboxed Conferences is scaling up by organizing a continent wide virtual mentoring event – YPAFRICA. Scheduled for June 12, YPAFRICA will host 100 top level executives from all over Africa and beyond engaging with 1,000 young professionals. 25 job sectors will be covered.
Details of confirmed mentors and how to register will become available from May 1st, 2021.
