Our Story
It started with a question: why weren't young Nigerians at the table?
In 2017, a small group of young people in Bauchi decided the answer wasn't to wait for an invitation — it was to build the table themselves. They registered the Initiative for Leadership Development and Youth Empowerment (ILEAD), now known as the Young Leaders Network, with a clear conviction: that youth aren't the leaders of tomorrow. They're the leaders of right now.
The early work was direct and local — civic education sessions in schools, voter-rights dialogues in communities, and budget-tracking initiatives that gave ordinary residents a lens into how public money was spent. It wasn't glamorous, but it was effective. And word spread.
Within a few years, YLN had grown from a single-state operation into a recognised force for change — with a dedicated team, a track record of results, and a model that put young people at the centre of every intervention it designed.
What began in Bauchi quickly crossed state lines. As YLN's model proved its worth, the work expanded into Nasarawa and Plateau States — reaching over 200 communities with programmes in civic education, girls' education advocacy, peacebuilding, and youth leadership. A National Endowment for Democracy-funded project alone trained 630 youth and women who went on to reach more than 5,800 of their peers.
Each community brought new proof that the idea worked: adolescent girls completing mentorship programmes and staying in school, young men leading climate action in their neighbourhoods, and citizens sitting across the table from elected officials and demanding answers — many for the first time in their lives.
By 2021 those results had drawn global partners — the Malala Fund, Plan International, Search for Common Ground, and LEAP Africa — organisations that saw in YLN what its founders had always believed: that when young Nigerians are equipped and trusted, they change things.
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Our Values
What We Stand For
Six principles that guide every decision, program, and partnership we make.
Every individual, regardless of background, can contribute and participate.
We reject mediocrity and consistently push for quality and impactful results.
Teamwork creates greater impact than individual effort alone.
We embrace creativity, bold ideas, and adaptability in our work.
Honesty, transparency, and accountability in everything we do.
We approach our work with compassion and deep community care.
Partners & Funders
Stronger Together
We work with government institutions, civil society, and global organisations to amplify impact and drive lasting change.
Get Involved
Ready to join
the movement?
Whether you want to volunteer, partner with us, or support our work — there is a place for you in the YLN community.