Julius Ilori, Co-Founder of the Save D Future Initiative, shares with Attain his vision to reduce crime rate among teenagers and youth through education, sensitization and empowerment programmes.
Please Tell Us About Yourself
Ilori Julius is a graduate of Business Administration and Management at Yaba College of Technology, is a young vibrant Nigerian passionate about crime education, advocate against Drug abuse and underage drinking, Cyber crime . He has gained certification in Project Management from London Professional Training Centre. Also, he is an Associate Member Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria.
Currently, he is the Project Manager of Young African Leaders Initiative, YALI, Lagos hub. He also functions as the Program Coordinator, Galaxy 4 Peace. Being a member of United Nations Organization of Nigeria and Lead volunteer with Sozo Network, Vibrant teens Academy , Ilori Julius has positively impacted the lives of many. As the founder of Save D Future Initiative, SDFI, he has been able to build a team that focus on reducing the crime rate among teenagers and youth through Education, sensitization and Empowerment programs . He Coordinated several projects on drug abuse, Ilori Julius has been able to reach over 4000 teenagers and trained 150 young “anti-drug abuse” Ambassadors. Recently, Julius featured on the Health vibe radio program on Rhythm 93.7 radio station in celebration of World day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking.
When Julius is not working, he enjoys attending conferences, networking and spending quality time with close friends and family.
Tell us about your Vision (Non-profit Organization or Project)?
We worked to reduce crime rate among the teenagers through education, sensitization and empowerment. We carried out a research work on the Government can reduce crime rate among teens /Youth, through this process We Identified cyber crime and drug abuse as a major challenge among teens in his community, we have sensitised over 4000 teenagers on drug abuse he as also trained 300 young Anti Drug abuse Ambassadors in Ajegunle and Ikeja they work to monitor issues surrounding drug abuse and crime rate among their peer, we worked with the National drug law enforcement agency, National Agency for food drug law administration control to come up with quick measures to reduce the rate of drug abuse and underage drinking among teens and also to reduce crime rate among teens. We are currently running a project to empower over 300 teenagers on creative Arts using waste materials to make bags, photography,Videography and Fashion designing and also creating an enabling environment for them. We believes that once we engage the minds of the teenagers they will stay away drug abuse, cyber crime and culitism. Through this activities poverty, easy access to education, and reduction in unemployment rate. . they will be more productive and creative. Julius also organised a training for parents to no when their teens is going into drug abuse and other criminal activities.
When and how was it birthed?
I started this initiative with my friends, I contested for the lagos state youth ambassador in 2017, I did not make it to the finals, after the program I felt I need to be part of those who profer solutions to problems in their community (change maker ). That is what lead to the establishment of Save d future initiative . During my internship with Center for international private enterprise DC, I was exposed to non profit making business.
What were the main challenges you faced early on when you started this Vision and how did you overcome them ?
The major challenge was to combine school activities with the initiative, I was also couldn't no how to implement the vision, I really dont no how to go about it. How was able to overcome this challenge by volunteering for some projects, attending some capacity development program, that was how I connected to some mentors who placed my feet on the rigth treck.
I will like to say this money is not always the problem to start something great Alot of people preconceived that idea without money you can really start anything great. But let me inform you, You have to understand your vision, get mentors, volunteer, build your capacity, connect with likeminds. Don't ever share your vision with people who don't believe in you. All you need to grow is in your network. Once you are able to start, people start to see value in what you do, they will support you.
What was the biggest challenge you ever faced since you started?
My biggest challenge was getting people to support our work, Alot of people look at me as a young boy, who may be a 419 ( yahoo yahoo 😆) . I remember me and friend Ikechukuw visited one of the biggest religious home in Lagos. We felt they could help us out but they kept posting us come tomorrow, come next week it was so frustrating, I felt they didn't support us based on the fact that they see us as small boys looking for where to get money, and also what will they get in return. We wasted so much on proposals,at the end Notting came out. But we didn't give up am glad to tell you that this Same church is requesting to partner with us now. "You size or how you look doesn't determine what you carry inside of you"
What do you consider success in your Project/Non-profit?
We have being able to touch lifes of many teens/Youth through Education, Sensitization and empowerment.
We discovered that the rate of crime among the Youth is increasing everyday, there is need for urgent action. We decided to identify those things that can Lead them to criminal activities. We have reached out to over 4000 teenagers in Lagos educating them on the long term consequences of drug abuse. We have trained 300 anti drug abuse Ambassadors,We have also trained over 70 mothers on signs to watch out for in their teens when they start abusing drugs or going into criminal activities. Due to our intervention and sensitization program our partner National drug law enforcement agency has set up a line to get reports of any issues relating to drug Abuse among teens.
We also organised a stakeholder forum with relevant agencies like National Agencies for food, drug administration control, Nigeria prison service, mental health expert, etc.
At what point did you begin to achieve success in your pursuit of your Vision and how did it happen?
I believe success is distination we are not there yet.
My success story so far is forming a team of young vibrant people who work tirelessly to keep us moving. They were able to understand the vision and they keyed into it.
However, Being able to form the team is what I see as a major success, I believe the vision will keep running even if am not there anymore . I was able to bring together some great minds who volunteered to work with me also some of them are beneficiaries of our first major project, they saw the value in what we are doing and decided to become volunteers. Some of them are now team members.
What would you consider your greatest achievement ever you since you started ?
My Greatest achievement was the civil society SDGs awards we received recently 120 nominations, 30 nominees across 10 categories, and 10 finally awardees and winners. I was so happy to receive the recognition for our hard work. I look forward to more achievement in future.
If you could go back in time, what are the changes you would have made for your Project/Non-profit?
To be honest I will not change anything, so far it being challenging but we are determined to keep working till we actualize our dreams.
What else should we see you doing in the Future?
In the nearest future I be more active in politics, Governance and the fashion industry.
I will also be on writing some inspiration books to inspire the next generation. I hope to speak on great platform all around the world.
What's the most important lesson you have learnt since you started your Non-profit project?
The most important lesson I have learnt is that; being the director of the NGO does not mean am the best in the team , it only made me understand that through my leadership others will discover their potential and be useful to the community. You need others to succeed, no man can be successful on his own. With this principle I don't look down on anybody, everyone is important.
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