Theme: Rewriting the Present

As the world evolves into a more stable, inclusive, and egalitarian society, evidence of this development in our community has been somewhat minuscule due to conflicting perceptions, flawed mindsets, and lack of quality exposure. Such ideologies stifle our individual, career, and societal development. Hence, we recognize the need to expose people to a quality education where modern progressive ideas are rooted in inclusiveness, equality, and stability.

TEDxYouth@ValenciaCollegeIbadan is a gathering of young persons who believe in the dream of an equal society. The inspiration for this is the yearning for a community where people are not judged based on their gender, career choices, or discriminated against for forming their opinions.

American Corner Ibadan
54, Magazine Road, Jericho
IACD Building
Ibadan, Oyo, 200284
Nigeria

Cill Soul

Singer | Songwriter | Guitarist | Creative

Born and raised in Benin City to a family of seven, Cill Soul is an alternative musician based in Lagos, Nigeria. She loves telling stories through music, and enjoys making music in the genre of soul, alternative rock, folk and country music with splashes of African sounds. She uses her music as a tool for social engineering, advocacy, and promotion of patriotism. Her single, "Sound the Alarm", released in 2013 was inspired by her experiences while volunteering with an NGO monitoring election in Nigeria at the time. She believes in spreading quality music like wildfire knowing that someday good music will eventually chase bad music out of the Industry. She is gifted with a passionate voice that will take you on a journey through storytelling. She has shared the stage with various artistes like Olamide, Femi Leye, Isaac Gerald, Johnny Drille, Nana Aisha and so on.

Emmanuel Abayomi

Psychiatrist

A graduate of the prestigious College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Dr. Abayomi is a mental health specialist who has, for the past nine years, working in the field of mental health, with the last seven years as a specialist. He is a certified United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and European Union (EU) Drug Addiction Counsellor. He has also received specialized training in psychotherapy, stress management, and leadership in health management. He has worked extensively among university undergraduates, primary and secondary school students, religious organizations, corporate organizations, communities, and hospitals. A fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, Dr. Abayomi’s special interest spans child and adolescent mental health care, alcohol and drug addiction psychiatry, mental health advocacy, psychotherapy, executive stress management, prevention of mental disorders, and promotion of mental health and well-being.

Funmilayo Agbaje

Gender, Security, Peace, and Conflict Expert | Lecturer in Peace, Security, and Humanitarian Studies

Dr. Funmilayo Idowu Agbaje is a researcher and an expert in the fields of Gender, Security, Peacemaking, Peace-building, Conflict Management, Negotiation, and Social Sector Management. She is currently a lecturer at the Department of Peace, Security, and Humanitarian Studies, Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She has published academic papers on traditional instruments and processes of peacemaking in Africa, colonialism and the shaping of gender in Africa, colonial society: gender, class and culture, African feminism and peacemaking, and contemporary issues in gender, insurgency, and post-conflict peacebuilding in Africa, among others. She has been a recipient of national and international scholarships, grants, and awards. She is a member of several academic and professional societies.

Jadesola Ajao

Top Rated Plus Freelance Writer | Final-year DVM Student | Aspiring Oncologist

Jadesola Ajao is a final-year student of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ibadan. She has a perfect CGPA and four academic distinctions and has been awarded two national scholarships on account of her academic excellence. Outside the classroom, Jadesola is a Top-Rated Plus freelance writer on the Upwork platform. She has amassed millions from writing for clients in the USA, Middle East, Singapore, Germany, and the United Kingdom. She is also a member of the Veterinary News Organisation, University of Ibadan, where she served as the Deputy Editor-in-Chief and a Senator in the Union of Campus Journalists at her university. She has accumulated years of research, clinical, and laboratory experience in the field of Veterinary Medicine, most notably oncology. She is published/ in Isele Magazine, Kikwetu Lit, MANI Anthology, MONUS Anthology, Freedom Magazine, Punocracy, and UIWrites. She is the 2018 Tell! Best Campus Storyteller, and has been shortlisted for other writing prizes.

Margaret Bolaji-Adegbola

International Development Professional | Founder, Stand With A Girl (SWAG) Initiative

Margaret Bolaji-Adegbola is an International Development Professional. She recently was a youth program advisor with the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs FP Portfolio in Nigeria. She was a member of WHO’s External Advisory Group of the Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (AA-HA!) guideline. She was among the 47 young people from around the world selected to speak at the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) held in Nusa Dua, Indonesia in 2016. She is one of 120 under 40 winners. Margaret founded the Stand With A Girl (SWAG) Initiative to ensure that every girl in Nigeria, no matter where she is born or found, is empowered to fulfill her maximum potential. She holds a B.A. in English Language and an M.Sc in Policy & Development Studies from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and completed a Global Health Leadership Accelerator Program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the USA in 2019.

Nwafor Joseph

Professional Dance Artist | Creative | First Runner Up, GLO BATTLE OF THE YEAR 2022

Bboy Whirlz (born Nwafor Joseph) is a professional dance artist, brand influencer, and creative. He was First Runner Up at the just concluded GLO BATTLE OF THE YEAR 2022. He has also curried other prestigious wins which include being a Finalist at the REDBULL BC ONE Nigeria 2019; WORLD OF DANCE Nigeria, 2019 & 2020 respectively; and at the 2020 edition of the STARZZ REALITY TV SHOW. Bboy Whirlz is the current president of the Akwa Ibom state chapter of the Guild of Nigerian Dancers and Practitioners.

Omilani Nathaniel

Science Education Lecturer | Educational Consultant | Scholar

Dr. Omilani Nathaniel is a lecturer in the Department of Science and Technology Education at the University of Ibadan. He holds both a Ph.D. and MSc in Science Education, specializing in Chemistry from the University of Ibadan. Earlier, he had obtained a B.Sc (Ed) in Chemistry from the University of Lagos. His areas of specialization are Cognition in Science, Science Practical Teaching, Preservice Science Teacher Education, and Pedagogical Content Knowledge Development. He is also passionate about how children learn science at the primary school level. Before joining the University of Ibadan, he lectured in the Department of Integrated Science, Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, Ogun, Nigeria, for 10 years. Before working as a lecturer in the College of Education, he had taught Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Further Mathematics at the secondary school. He has published many articles in reputable journals and attended conferences nationally and internationally.

Opeoluwa Olatunbosun

Spoken Word Artiste | Child Literacy Advocate | Textile Designer

Opeoluwa Olatunbosun is a slam-winning spoken word poet, writer, and child literacy advocate, and has performed at two TEDx events. She's an ardent believer in a better Nigeria and believes we can all work together to make it happen. As a child literacy advocate, she's a volunteer with The Book Drive where currently she's the Programs Manager and Oyo State chapter representative. Asides from being a poet, Opeoluwa is a textile designer. She is the founder and creative director of the "AUNTY ALADIRE" brand. She is currently studying English and Literature at the University of Ibadan

Rinu Oduala

Human Rights Activist | Brand Influencer | Media Strategist

Rinu Oduala, professionally known as Savvy Rinu, is a Nigerian human rights activist, brand influencer, and media strategist. She became renowned for being one of the leading forces in the End SARS Protests of October 2020. She joined the Nigerian Youth as one of the lead voices protesting against the severe injustice against humanity carried out across the nation. She is one of NBCWashington 31 Women creating a positive impact in Africa; one of BBC Most Influential Women in Africa 2020; one of LLA’s 2021 #100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria; one of BBC Nigerian Women Leading the Fight for Change; one of 2020 100 Most Influential Young Nigerians; One of YNaija Most Influential Voices in Nigerian Politics; a Fellow at AdamStart Africa Creative Activism Cohort; among others. She is Executive Director, The Marigold RO FDN.

Sarat Alabidun

Materials Scientist | Electrochemist | Battery Scientist

Sarat Alabidun is a materials scientist, electrochemist, and battery scientist. She interned at the Cell Research Lab at Tesla where she studied the degradation mechanisms of Lithium-ion batteries and their impacts on thousands of electric vehicles. A vast and versatile brain, she was a Commonwealth Youth Correspondent where her correspondence ranged on topics in culture, environment, economy, SDGs, democracy and participation, youth, and gender issues. Also, her leadership skills are evidenced in her role as a member of the student advisory board, representing international students and their interests during her master's degree program at the Northern Illinois University, Illinois, USA. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London where she conducts research focused on using sustainable everyday materials to improve batteries and energy storage. Sarat is also currently a Damian Cummins scholar at imperial.