Real Life After School Initiative · Since 2013
About us

Helping young Nigerians move from qualified to ready.

The Real Life After School Initiative is a youth transition and workforce readiness platform established in 2013, focused on equipping young Nigerians with practical tools for responsible decision-making, resilience, and post-school stability.

The Real Life After School team with NYSC SAED officials at an orientation camp

With NYSC SAED officials at camp

Who we are

A long-standing platform for life’s biggest transition

Since 2013, the Real Life After School Initiative has supported young Nigerians at the critical transition from education to independent adulthood and work. Over the years, the programme has supported students and corps members at the point where life, career, and wellbeing decisions begin to shape long-term outcomes.

We exist to help young people move beyond academic qualification into real-life readiness — career clarity, disciplined choices, emotional resilience, and long-term stability — delivered through institutional partnerships and structured engagements.

We operate as a strategic intervention initiative designed to equip young minds with competitive soft and transferable skills needed in the 21st-century world of work and business. The Initiative ensures continuity of impact — supporting healthier life choices, reduced uncertainty, and improved long-term stability.

Career clarity

Knowing where you are going — and why.

Decision discipline

Responsible personal and professional choices.

Emotional resilience

Staying steady through uncertainty.

Long-term stability

Building a life that holds up over time.

Why we exist

Human capital is a nation’s critical asset

The economy of a nation is only as good as its human capital, and its growth and sustainable development are determined by the quality of its people. Yet the 21st-century workplace is dynamic — driven by innovation, technology and intense competition — and employers are constantly in search of people with contemporary, relevant skills that add value to their enterprise.

Young people — fresh and unemployed graduates — often lack these emerging workplace skills, creating a prevailing employability challenge and real concern among employers of labour. Government and stakeholders must harness, nurture and equip this critical asset, and engage the demographic advantage it holds: numerical strength, creative ingenuity, resilience and raw energy.

National Bureau of Statistics · Sept 2016

13.5M

youth of employable age were reported as unemployable — underscoring the urgency of practical readiness support.

This is the gap we close.

Vision

To be the biggest mind factory for youth; empower the next generation through knowledge, break the chains of ignorance and unlock possibilities in Africa.

Mission

To ignite curiosity, fuel learning, and empower young minds with knowledge, so they can break free from limitations and become agents of change in Africa.

Our journey

From one book to a national initiative

  1. 2013

    The Initiative is established

    Real Life After School begins supporting young Nigerians at the transition from education to work.

  2. 2016

    Partnership with NYSC SAED

    We join NYSC orientation camps through Skill Acquisition & Entrepreneurship Development.

  3. Camps

    Activations across all states

    Sessions, mentoring and the book reach corps members in orientation camps nationwide, with sponsors such as Airtel, AXA Mansard and Cordros.

  4. Today

    IMPACT 50K

    The second edition, Real Life After School, anchors our national scale initiative.

Facilitator speaking to a large group of corps members
3 weeks · 7 sessions
Hybrid & classroom
The Program & Training Component

Learning by doing

Our training components are drawn from globally acknowledged 21st-century workplace skills, designed to be thought-provoking, participatory and interactive — a comprehensive engagement that gives interns the opportunity for experiential and practical learning.

This sustainable employability training and capacity-building programme is delivered through blended experiential learning activities and delivery modes. Our modules are set for 3 weeks of training (hybrid and classroom) across 7 sessions.

Picture gallery

Moments from the camps

tap any photo to enlarge

A corps member holding a copy of Life After School at an NYSC orientation camp Facilitator addressing corps members at an orientation camp Corps members seated during a Real Life After School session The Real Life After School team with NYSC SAED officials Corps members working through exercises during a session One-on-one career conversation with corps members Corps members taking notes during a session Corps members filling in programme worksheets Facilitator speaking to a large group of corps members Mentoring conversation at the camp Corps member in conversation with a volunteer Career guidance conversation under the camp canopy
Partners and sponsors

In good company

The institutions, brands and universities that have backed the initiative.

Partners

  • NYSC SAED
  • SPC Patterns Resources
  • Bavarde Group

Sponsors & institutions

  • Airtel
  • AXA Mansard
  • Cordros Capital
  • FBNQuest Asset Management
  • United Capital
  • Adeleke University, Ede
  • Lead City University, Ibadan
  • Obafemi Awolowo University
  • University of Lagos
  • University of Abuja
  • University of Benin
  • Esporta Empowerment Foundation
  • DigiKolo
  • Tropicalgate Ltd
  • Abeebi Group
  • Mariegold Ventures

Help a young Nigerian prepare for real life after school.

Partner with us, sponsor copies of the book for a camp, or volunteer your time. Every engagement extends the reach of the initiative.

Partner with us Volunteer