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1997@30: Turning an Anniversary into a Legacy

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1997@30: Turning an Anniversary into a Legacy 11 September 2026 In 2027, members of the Class of 1997 will mark thirty years since completing secondary school. Thirty years is a significant milestone: a natural moment to remember, reconnect, celebrate how far we have come and reflect on the people, institutions and experiences that helped shape our journeys. But we believe it can also become something more. What if this anniversary became an opportunity not only to look back, but also to reach back? What if, thirty years after our own secondary-school journey, members of the Class of 1997 intentionally reconnected with the schools and communities that helped form us and contributed to preparing the Class of 2027 for what comes next? Today, 11 September 2026 , WhatNext Africa formally launches the 1997@30 Global Reach-Back Legacy Initiative , a structured effort to connect the Class of 1997 with the Class of 2027 , beginning with our former schools and exploring practical way...
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STS Weekend Reflection - The Missing Link

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SHARPENING THE SAW (STS) WEEKEND The Missing Link What connects learning to a meaningful future? Warm greetings! We often speak about education, skills and opportunity as though they naturally lead to one another. A young person goes to school, acquires knowledge, develops a skill, obtains a qualification and eventually finds a productive place in the world. But the journey is rarely that straightforward. Between learning and earning, between preparation and participation, between what a person knows and what they are able to contribute, there is often a missing link. That question has received renewed attention in Nigeria this week. A pre-summit dialogue convened by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning focused on “The Missing Link: From Learning to Earning.” The discussion examined the gaps between education, skills development and access t...
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Congratulations, 2025 Batch B Stream II Corps Members!

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Congratulations, 2025 Batch B Stream II Corps Members! Congratulations, 2025 Batch B Stream II corps members, on the successful completion of your National Service. Today marks the end of an important chapter - a year of service, learning, responsibility, relationships, challenges and growth. But the end of National Service is also the beginning of another transition. For some, the next step will be employment. For others, further education, entrepreneurship, professional development, or an entirely different path. Whatever comes next, the question is no longer simply “What Next?” but “Are you ready for it?” At WhatNext Africa , we believe that transitions are better navigated when they are anticipated and prepared for. So, as you celebrate this milestone, take a moment to look ahead. Reflect on what you have learned. Take stock of what you have built. Identify where you want to go - and begin prepa...
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September: When “What Next?” Becomes Real

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September: When “What Next?” Becomes Real There are months that simply pass. And then there are months in which the calendar seems to move at the same time as life. September is one of them. For millions of learners, families, educators, institutions, graduates, job seekers and employers, something is beginning to happen. A new academic year is opening across significant parts of the education ecosystem. Students are moving into new classes, programmes and institutions. School leavers are making, or preparing to make, consequential decisions about what comes after secondary school. Undergraduates are entering new stages of their academic journeys. And beyond the classroom, the labour market is moving too. For many organisations, the final quarter brings renewed workforce planning, recruitment and talent-acquisition activity. For graduates and emerging professionals, opportunities begin to appear — and with them comes the familiar question: What next? But...
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STS Weekend Reflection - What Will You Do With What You Know

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SHARPENING THE SAW (STS) WEEKEND What Will You Do With What You Know? Learning matters most when it becomes capability, contribution and action. Warm greetings! We spend a great deal of time asking young people what they have learned. We ask about their grades, certificates, courses, qualifications, skills and experiences. We encourage them to acquire knowledge because we know that preparation matters. But perhaps there is a harder and more important question we should ask: What can you now do because you have learned it? That question feels particularly relevant at a time when the conversation around young people's futures is increasingly moving from access to capability . Across Nigeria and beyond, there is growing emphasis on digital skills, employability, technical and vocational education, entrepreneurship and preparation for an economy being reshaped by technology ...
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Congratulations, NYSC 2026 Batch B Stream 2 Corps members

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Congratulations to 2026 Batch B Stream 2 Corps Members  Today marks the successful completion of the orientation exercise for members of the 2026 Batch B Stream 2 of the NYSC. Congratulations to all Corps Members as you move into the next phase of your national service journey and proceed to your Places of Primary Assignment (PPA) and host communities. At WhatNext Africa , we believe that every major transition is not merely an ending, but an opportunity to prepare intentionally for what comes next. Transition should be navigated with awareness, purpose and readiness - not simply experienced as a change of circumstance. Your NYSC year is therefore more than an obligation to serve. It is a significant transition between one stage of life and another - a period to serve, learn, build relationships, develop competence, discover opportunities and prepare for life beyond NYSC. As you begin this next stage, approach it with purpose, integrity, openness to learning and a willingness...
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Class of 2026: Thirty Days Into the Bigger World, What Has Taken Root?

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THE BIGGER WORLD BRIEF - CLASS OF 2026 TRANSITION SERIES | DAY 31 Thirty Days Into the Bigger World, What Has Taken Root? For the Class of 2026, the first month after secondary school is now behind us. The question is no longer only what you hope to do next. It is what the first 30 days have taught you - and what you will do with the 60 days that remain in this first transition season. A month can disappear quickly. Thirty days ago, the Class of 2026 crossed a threshold that had been approaching for years. Secondary school ended. The timetable stopped. The familiar pattern of classes, teachers, examinations, bells and school routines gave way to a much less organised world. At first, there was good reason not to rush. The opening days after school were a time to recover, organise and take stock. There were results to wait for, documents to secure, questions to ask, possible pathways to investigate and, for many, a genuine need simply to rest after the long examination season. The...
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