Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders: RC Ikate Sponsors Five Youths to RYLA 2025
The Rotary Club of Ikate sponsored five young leaders from Surulere to attend RYLA 2025 at Sea School, Apapa—empowering them with the skills, confidence, and vision to drive positive change in their communities.
10/25/20251 min read
At the Rotary Club of Ikate, we believe true change begins when young people are given the tools to lead. In August 2025, our club sponsored five outstanding youths from the Surulere community to participate in the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) — District 9112’s annual leadership camp held at Sea School, Apapa, Lagos, from August 3rd to 10th.
This year’s RYLA, themed “Empowered to Innovate, Driven to Impact,” gathered bright young minds from across the district for a week of intensive leadership training, teamwork exercises, and inspirational talks by accomplished professionals and Rotarians. The program’s goal was clear — to shape confident, creative, and service-oriented leaders ready to make a difference in their communities.
Our five sponsored participants immersed themselves in this transformative experience, learning essential life and leadership skills: communication, problem-solving, community building, and resilience. Under the mentorship of seasoned facilitators and Rotarians, they discovered the power of collaboration, innovation, and empathy — the same principles that define Rotary’s service culture.
The impact of this project extends far beyond one week at Sea School. These young leaders have returned to Surulere eager to apply what they’ve learned — by mentoring their peers, volunteering in local projects, and sharing new ideas that strengthen our community. In many ways, they are now ambassadors of Rotary values: Service Above Self, leadership through integrity, and change through action.
This initiative forms a key part of the Rotary Club of Ikate’s strategic roadmap to empower youth and nurture sustainable leadership within our community. We are committed to continuing this sponsorship annually, ensuring that more young people benefit from the RYLA experience and carry its lessons forward.
As District Governor Rtn. Lanre Adedoyin reminded participants during his closing address, “The world needs your energy, your ideas, and your courage to lead.” The Rotary Club of Ikate proudly echoes that call — because when we invest in youth, we invest in the future of humanity itself.
Together, we’re not just building leaders; we’re shaping tomorrow’s changemakers.