IMG-20231001-WA0000

Nuturing Leadership and Innovation for a better Nigeria

by with No Comment Personal Development

At YTOP Global, we are deeply committed to our mission of nurturing leadership and innovation to create a brighter future for Nigeria. As we celebrate Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Day, our dedication to this cause shines brighter than ever.

A Beacon of Hope in 1960

In 1960, Nigeria emerged as a beacon of hope for the African continent. We represented the promise of potential and greatness, a promise that continues to define our identity. YTOP Global believes in rekindling that hope and channeling it into tangible progress.

Harnessing Our Wealth of Resources:

Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources, waiting to be harnessed for the greater good. Our oil, minerals, and agriculture hold immense potential for prosperity. YTOP Global is dedicated to responsible resource management to secure a legacy for future generations.

Nurturing Exceptional Talent:

Throughout history, Nigeria has been a breeding ground for exceptional talent in various fields. YTOP Global aims to nurture and empower these talents, enabling them to shine on the global stage. Our youthful population is a wellspring of innovation, and we’re here to tap into that potential.

A Leader in Africa:

Nigeria stands tall among African nations, boasting a substantial population and vast economic potential. Our influence and market are unmatched on the continent. YTOP Global envisions leveraging this position to drive unprecedented growth and development across Africa.

Unity and Perseverance:

As we commemorate our independence, YTOP Global underscores the importance of unity and unwavering perseverance. Challenges may persist, but our commitment to overcoming them is unwavering. Let the words of our national anthem guide our leaders toward positive change.

A Radiant Future with YTOP Global:

Nigeria’s 63rd year of independence signals a new beginning. YTOP Global prioritizes peace, justice, and equity as we journey toward progress. We invite individuals to join us in fostering unity, championing transparency, and actively participating in our nation’s development.

In the spirit of hope and renewal, YTOP Global stands as a beacon of dedication to make Nigeria better. We are committed to raising leaders who will drive positive change and nurturing talents who will pioneer sustainable solutions. Together, we will illuminate the path to a brighter and more promising Nigeria.

Join YTOP Global in our relentless pursuit of a better Nigeria. Together, we will build a nation that reflects the greatness and potential we have always represented.

african-american-businesswoman-having-headache-feeling-tired-while-working-home-min

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES; A MAJOR CHALLENGE FACED BY YOUTHS TODAY

by with No Comment Personal Development

An extract from Sunmola Khadijat Olabisi article

Since my seventeenth birthday a few years ago, I have become more sensitive, curious, and alert. Above all, I have become more prone to asking questions about who I really am, where I am heading, and what the outcome of my journey would be. I term this introspection. However, there is a thin line between introspection and “second party comparison” – evaluating one’s success based on someone else’s accomplishments.

Unfortunately, I crossed that line and became extremely hard on myself. I often teared up, jolted items, and felt my happiness battery draining at a terrific rate. Fortunately, I found salvation when I consulted a therapist. They taught me about mental health and its high chance of being thwarted in one’s youthful age. The therapist opened my eyes to the number of young people whose mental health is being slowly massacred, despite dressing and walking elegantly.

An unfortunate reality about this hiccup is that most young people cannot even identify the warning signs of draining mental health, much less speak about it. This is why suicide, the aftermath of untreated mental health issues, is the leading cause of death among youths, as reported by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Too many promising young people have lost their lives to the struggle with their mental health. How many more graves of youths do we owe to suicide?

african-american-businesswoman-having-headache-feeling-tired-while-working-home-min

HOW CAN WE SAVE THE SITUATION?

We can save the situation by acknowledging that “knowledge is power” when it comes to mental health issues although the quoted phrase might sound like a cliché. Young people need to improve their understanding of mental health and appropriate referral services. Knowing when to seek professional help can alleviate the burden of mental instability.

Additionally, young people should learn what to avoid (e.g. triggers), what to alter (e.g. one’s thoughts), what to accept (e.g. one’s mistakes), and what to adapt to (e.g. looking at the bigger picture) in order to become mental health champions.

Also, the Asido Foundation in Nigeria and other mental health organizations can help young people become champions in mental health advocacy. Advocating for mental health not only improves one’s own mental wellness, but also helps to alleviate the suffering of others struggling with mental health issues.

Furthermore, we cannot achieve a healthy society without government intervention. The government ought to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, ADHD, and other mental health issues as modern-day forms of slavery that handcuff young people. The passing of Nigeria’s mental health bill by the federal government on January 5, 2023 is a notable feat for mental health advocacy. With more support from the government, we can breed a society of mentally healthy youths.

The youths are the trustee of posterity; thus, their all-round wellness must be prioritized. The world should be made a better place, one youth at a time.

week7

THE DILEMMA OF LEADERSHIP: SEQUEL TO RISE OF 100 LEADERS, OAU.

by with No Comment Career DevelopmenmtPersonal Development

Everywhere Racheal went, she was hailed as a natural-born leader endowed with exceptional skills. It seemed destiny had carved out a path for her, placing her in leadership positions at a remarkably young age—in the classroom, during practical sessions, at church, or wherever her presence was required.

Despite her introverted nature, Racheal mastered the art of adaptation, seamlessly blending into any environment she found herself in. She may not have sought the spotlight, but the unmistakable essence of leadership always gravitated toward her. With time, she honed her leadership abilities, immersing herself in the realm and leveraging her strengths while actively working on her weaknesses.

Diligence, commitment, excellence, loyalty, integrity, and other leadership qualities determined Racheal’s guiding principles. However, a quandary plagued her mind.

Racheal had fallen ill with the flu, bedridden for three grueling days. Yet, she couldn’t help but shoulder the burden of completing all the assigned tasks. During this period, she realized how much she had neglected to delegate responsibilities to her team in a manner that would allow progress to continue in her absence. This dilemma could aptly be termed the crucial concept of “knowledge transference.”

Embarking on the journey of knowledge transfer, we uncover the unique art of sharing wisdom, skills, and insights from one entity to another. It’s a profound exchange that captures the essence of growth and development, meticulously capturing, organizing, and transferring the keys to success.

Consider this intriguing scenario: The Rise of 100 Leaders, fueled by an insatiable thirst for progress, tactfully unveiled a fascinating leadership predicament, knowledge transfer, and management. By combining close-knit group interactions with well-equipped coaches and engaging classroom activities, every participant discovered their voice and felt renewed excitement and enthusiasm.

But amidst this captivating narrative, let’s delve into a few tantalizing thoughts:

  1. How can the invaluable knowledge acquired in this transformative training cascade across the leadership realm, nurturing a new breed of exemplary visionaries through an unwavering commitment to quality?
  2. What extraordinary processes can a leader craft within their organization or team, ensuring the continuous flow of projects and tasks even in their absence, fostering a legacy of excellence?
  3. In the labyrinth of leadership, how does a true leader foster trust among their team and deftly navigate the delicate path of knowledge transfer, fostering an environment of growth and collaboration?
  4. Unlocking the secrets to effective knowledge transfer: a quest that demands ingenuity, strategy, and unwavering dedication. How can we traverse this treacherous terrain to extract the full potential of shared wisdom, maximizing its impact?

YTOP RISE OF 100 LEADERS WEEK 7-9

by with No Comment Career DevelopmenmtPersonal Development

The Rise of 100 Leaders, Week 7 commenced with Mr. Ekundayo Damilare a recap of past learnings and how the practical applications of collaboration, teamwork, idea generation, talent management, and much more were taught by the previous coaches. All participants were encouraged to discuss how they could have implemented the concepts in their day-to-day activities. To add a touch of interest and interaction, Mr. Ekundayo Oluwadamilare posed a quiz question that targeted recognizing and harnessing opportunities and the importance of effective resource management.

Weeks 7 to 9 covered the topics of Success, Self-Pitching, Branding, Business Opportunity and reality, and Corporate and Enterprise Leadership. As these topics were vital for every youth in the labor market, they were extensively discussed by every invited coach.

There are many definitions of success, yet being successful has been attributed to different characteristics and attributes. During the class, which was anchored by Miss Ogooluwa Oseni, all participants could reimagine the many definitions of success and see new perspectives on what success means. As a successful entrepreneur, she could practically explain what success meant, the ups and downs, the strengths and weaknesses,  and everything encompassing success as a term and lifestyle.

Branding, a unique topic that is an essential part of every individual and business owner, was carefully dissected by Mister Cornelius Ilori. Everyone is a brand and has a name, but how do you effectively pitch yourself as a brand.

Whether it’s an interview or a business meeting, research says you have 45 seconds to interest your listener or lose interest in you. That is why it is very essential to develop your brand and know how to pitch yourself. Your brand is your identity. Your identity determines what kind of value outsiders will place on you. Develop your brand, develop your identity, and increase your value.

Participants were encouraged to evaluate how they had branded themselves so far and the figurative identity of branding. Social media being an effective tool for branding was included. They were guided on how to use this tool to develop their brands, such as using a uniform name on all social media, using professional pictures,  posting value-rich content, and so much more. The Business Opportunity and Corporate and Enterprise Leadership classes were anchored by Miss Falolu Taiwo and Mister Ekundayo Oluwadamilare. The uniqueness of this class is that both Coaches are proven record-breakers in the business world. Having developed their brand as business entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector,  they were the right mentors for this class. Both coaches used practical approaches to upskill all participants through this session, which included sharing life experiences, using analysis of different mega organizations, highlighting distinct and unique attributes of leading figures in the business world, and even enlightening the participants about the business model canva that can be used to pitch the business more effectively to any investor.

As the session ended, the participants were encouraged to conduct a SWOT analysis, identify ways to improve their weaknesses and complement them with their strengths. They were also encouraged to expand their abilities as potential leaders.

With this, we drew the curtain close to the coaching session of the Rise of 100 Leaders, Obafemi Awolowo University. The lectures were enlightening in every sense of the word. Every participant was engaged in networking and even grouped to improve communication,  teamwork, accountability, and leadership. As some participants had their brands, creating a unique identity became easy as they could practice all they had learned. The program also became an opportunity to showcase its brand, and it was effectively supported by everyone who attended. The effect of the teaching throughout the eight-week program is evident on social media, with a noticeable improvement in response rate across all social networks, culminating in increased participant engagement.

At YTOP Global, we do not believe in just giving back; we restore value by giving back to society. We are committed to the success of our program participants and aim to help them achieve their dreams.

YTOP RISE OF 100 LEADERS WEEK 4-6

by with No Comment Career DevelopmenmtPersonal Development

As we rolled into the fourth week of “Rise of 100 Leaders in OAU”, all leaders practiced what had been taught in the practical communication class. An excerpt from the class extending greetings to each other even if the meeting hadn’t begun or there were some delays. The participants took up this responsibility to chat before the session. Furthermore, they discussed the day’s topic and shared their perceptions as potential leaders. Each participant also gave briefings on the highlights of the last session.

Idea generation is a process. Whatever idea you have was conceived before going through a process of actualization. The Process of Idea Generation was anchored by Miss Marvelous Ojo and Mr. Ekundayo Oluwadamilare. The participants were taken through the steps of idea generation and actualization, including conceiving, ideation, brainstorming, research, planning, skill-mapping, sourcing, and materializing your idea. Every idea is considered valid and insignificant, so writing your idea is advised. A common issue many individuals face is the fear that someone else has developed their ideas or they may get stolen. The anchor coach helped all participants understand the uniqueness of each idea regardless of how many people might have conceived the same idea. Your ideas may be the same, but your uniqueness is determined by how you carry out your conceived idea. During the session, participants were asked to look at their environment, identify a problem they would love to solve, and evaluate which phase of life they belong to according to the stages discussed

The subsequent classes were focused on the growth, development, and management of talent. Anchored by Miss Mercy-Praise Ninan and ,Mister Dotun Olaniji, the participants were enlightened on how to develop and harness their abilities to fulfill individual life’s purpose. They were also put through technical skills on how to identify their talents, put their talents to work, develop their skills, and increase their abilities beyond their current talents.

We close the coaching session for the Rise of 100 Leaders, Obafemi Awolowo University. In forthcoming weeks, participants will have exclusive sessions with leading executives of mega enterprises and leadership experts in the field.

Pink Gradient Lifestyle Photocentric Blog Article Instagram Post (1)

Twelve proven methods to overcome psychological stress on the journey to self-discovery

by with 3 Comments Personal Development

The road to self-discovery is tasking and can get stressful and frustrating. How, when, where, and what kept popping up in the brain and heart. It gets more worrying when there is no proven success on how much you have worked.

Every man has a specified purpose in various sectors in our world today. Annually, more people graduate from school and don’t even know which direction to go outside the school community, hence the stress of where to begin their lives.

Stress is a common word every youth says indirectly as, “I don’t know what to do.” Or “I don’t know where to start from.” Or “I feel frustrated about everything. “. This stress gets even worse with a lack of resources materially or financially. The six-lettered word, stress, can affect man psychologically, thereby bringing about confusion, anxiety, and depression. Meanwhile, some stress is not avoidable, but it can be managed.

 Today, the most common stress is money, work, and poor health and statistics by the American Institute of Stress, about 33% of the world population suffers from work stress, what to do, or what they are doing presently, and about 77 percent of those stressed experience a decline in physical health.

 

Now the purpose here is not to scare you but to help you realize a better way to manage yourself wherever you are either you are just starting the journey of self-discovery as a fresh graduate, and you have been on the journey for a while.

1.       Take your time; the first mistake most people make on this journey is that they rush into whatever they can do with the motive of making enough money and living a comfortable life. Now, taking your time is different from wasting your time.   During this period, you want to know who you are, what you do to the best of your abilities and efforts, and what makes you happy. You give yourself to understand, observe and develop yourself to solve societal problems. Medically, meditation is encouraged because it’s a period where you can be calm. The moment of calmness is the ability to think clearly. Amidst the chaos, demands, troubles, and economic situation,  take your time reviewing the pros and cons.

 

2.       Identify your stressor; a stressor could be a person, place, or situation, and stress could be a combination of any. After taking your time to meditate, settle down to identify why, how, when, and what gets you stressed out. Answering these questions would help you get a better understanding of your personality.  

 

 

3.       Schedule your worry: Yes, you can schedule your worries at a specific time of the day. It is similar to a to-do list you strictly implement into your day-to-day activities and helps you focus on solving one problem at a time and help place priorities.

 

4.       Take a step at a time; resist that part of you that seeks to accomplish multiple tasks within the same time frame. It is the reason the majority feel so stressed as they focus on many problems together.  After you schedule your worries, solve them one at a time to reduce how much you stress and help you accomplish more than you imagined in a shorter time frame. A great nation was not built in a day.

 

5.       Set limits: cutting off unnecessary visits or journeys, eating unnecessarily, wasting resources,  buying unnecessary stuff, and more could help reduce mental stress. On the journey of self-discovery, discipline is required, that is, setting limits on what you want and focusing from what you want to what you need. Setting priorities right would help reduce stress psychologically.

 

6.       Develop a hobby; be it playing games, strolling, chatting with friends, and more, develop a hobby that takes your mind off your troubles. Interestingly, every game on the Web today has an advantage for the brain, for example,  candy crush is a game that tests your patience and persistence, watercolor sort helps you in problem-solving, and 2047 helps you helps to test your level of concentration, exercising relaxes you. Whenever you feel overwhelmed,  take a break from work to help the brain cool off and keep a clear mind.

 

7.       Learn to ask for help;  I understand that you have been refused many times and have developed this independent mindset that you can do everything on your own. This is where the importance of association has emphasized the type of people you keep in your association, what your association offers positively from the friendship factor, what you gain or give to your association, and who your mentor or role model is. No man is an island.

 

8.       Have an open mind to learn and unlearn: On the journey of self-discovery,  you need to be open-minded and flexible. The journey is not about what you know in-depth but a time for you to learn new things and become a better individual.  Keep your mind open and seek opportunities to learn new things every day. Being open-minded helps keep a clear mind towards achieving your goals because an outdated individual who cannot meet the positive changes of time gets outdated in society.

 

9.       Journal your track record; I understand that keeping up with your set goal can be overwhelming and hard sometimes, but you can reduce the stress by keeping a journal or a calendar to record how close you are to achieving that goal. You compare what you have done to what you are yet to do and plan. This is not to stress you but to know how well you are doing. Not having a comparable record result in mental stress most of the time.

 

10.   Refuse to be compared: on the journey of self-discovery,  you are to discover who you are, not what the people around you want or what they see. Resist living the illusion people create about you. When you determine what you want to be, how to go about it becomes clearer and having a defined goal and imagery of yourself helps you work towards achievement.

 

11.   Build your self-esteem; the common saying, “the way you dress determines how you are addressed,” is not about dressing in a typical sense but about your composure to your goals and responsibilities. Being wealthy with low self-esteem is no different from a mediocre.   In our world today, your self-esteem defines how you view yourself. Take time building your self-esteem and confidence in who you are and want to be.

 

12.   Change your perspective; your mindset determines your approach. A change in your perspective would help to see things differently and approach a situation Skillful and vice versa. Take part in self-talk, read positive books, watch positive videos, and engage in productive activities.

 

 

One or two of the methods listed above are probably missing when you are seeking what to do in meeting ends means. Search through and ask yourself which is missing and engage it productively and you’ll be amazed how much progress you make on your journey to self-discovery

artificial intelligence, brain, think-3382507.jpg

WHAT DO OTHER PEOPLE AROUND YOU PERCEIVE AS YOUR PERSONALITY?

by with 3 Comments Personal Development
artificial intelligence, brain, think-3382507.jpg

The word ‘intentional’ means done on purpose and deliberate. Intentional highlights our goal to continue growing. It acts as a compass for our personal development.

According to Wikipedia, “Personal development consists of activities that develop a person’s capabilities and potential, build human capital, facilitate employability, and enhance the quality of life and the realization of dreams and aspirations.” Personal development can also include developing other people’s skills and personalities.

In your absence, what can people say about you? Have you asked your friends or close relative what they think about you? How well are you building your reputation?

One way to do that is to be proactive about developing your brand.

One of the student we met during our outreach to The Apostolic Grammar School, Modakeke, Ile-Ife, Osun state, who was a sculptor and realized he had been working for a long time and had started making sales

Personal branding is the effort to communicate and present your value to the world. Your brand is how others perceive you. Gary Vaynerchuk (An Entrepreneur) notes in his article (2019) about personal branding, “Your personal brand is your reputation. And your reputation in perpetuity is the foundation of your career.” In his article, Vaynerchuk notes, “You can’t have ‘multiple personalities’ for business, family, and everything else. You are who you are now, in this world.”

You must make sure you are conveying who you are with clear, consistent messaging.

Unless people know you personally, what people think, feel and, in turn, say about you is based on how they see you from afar or what they find online. When developing your brand, it is essential to be you.


Be aware that your brand is what people think of you, not what you think of yourself.

Our self-perception always differs from how others see us. Lyons stated that “people will judge you based on the results you deliver, not on what you promise to deliver, so be sure to articulate your value in concrete terms”.
Lyons identified four elements of a personal brand: Appearance, Personality, Competencies and Differentiation.

If the idea of developing a personal brand is daunting or uncomfortable, keep this last point in mind: “Every single one of us has an unfair advantage because we are all unique.”

Do you find this helpful? Then you should share.

human-resources-people-networking-concept_31965-7402

3 WAYS TO TAKE YOUR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY PERSONAL

by with 8 Comments Personal Development

A lot of times we fail to understand what personal development really is and just copy what other people we like are doing. Whereas you are unique and your combination of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are different compared to other people.

 

Have you ever wondered how siblings who grew up in the same environment, with the same parents and near-equal opportunities have different personalities? This is because aside from their environment, their biology is also a major determinant of how they will perceive things and interpret situations.

 

This is what developmental psychologists and human development professionals will call nature vs nurture. You cannot overlook the effect of your nature (genetics) and the environment you grew up in which includes the people you’ve interacted with up till now, the words you’ve heard, the places you’ve been to, the ideologies that have formed your mindset, and every other external influences that have contributed to making you.

 

This is why you are unique and why you should take your personal development journey personal because it is personal. No one can understand how you feel even if they say so, they might have a clue but not feel the same way. So how can you take your personal development journey personal?

money, coin, investment-2724241.jpg

1. Take a personality test to understand your personality: different personality tests exist on the internet such as the Myers and Briggs 16 personality types, DISC and Big Five. A personality test helps you understand why you do things the way you do them also gives you a glimpse into how you relate with people and jobs/careers that fit you. Your personality is truly not a permanent stamp on you. With a test, you know more about your strengths to make plans on getting better.

Don’t focus on your weaknesses too much because the more you work on your strengths, the smaller your weaknesses look. For example, if you are a shy person and one of your strengths is offering hope and encouragement to people. When you start working on reaching out to people, your shyness will diminish with time.

2. Draw out a personal plan for yourself: the personal development journey is indeed a lifetime journey and your life is also time-based. So it is always advisable to draw out a career, financial and any other personal plan for yourself while still keeping an open mind. How do you make this plan?

Write a list of things you need to know as a professional in what you do by doing a thorough research and looking out for interview sessions of people you admire when they share their stories. This plan will serve as a guide and help you stay on track.

businessman, success, stairs-6704997.jpg

For example, if you are studying to be an accountant. As an accountant, you need to have certain professional knowledge and certifications. Draw out a plan on how you want to achieve them. Maybe you will take one or two certifications yearly, then read books in and outside your field monthly or quarterly. You also need to attend events and network with people, which means your plan should include the number of events you’ll attend, where you’ll find them (eventbrite is a good source) and how often you’ll attend these events.

Your plan can be for 6 months, 1 year, 5 years or a decade. What is most important is that you draw out an evaluation plan in the course of that duration. For a 1 year plan, you can review it quarterly or monthly to know how much you’ve achieved, note the challenges and how you overcame and other important details that will help you in the future.

3. Celebrate yourself as you progress: let’s say you are working on your interpersonal skills and you successful had a conversation with someone for the first time, it’s ok to celebrate that. Celebrate your small wins because it is the little things that make up the big things.

Ensure that as much as you have role models, don’t compare yourself with anyone or beat yourself down because someone achieved something earlier than you did. You are a unique person and what matters in growth and development is a change in comparison to who you were yesterday.

Cheers to a bigger you!

Share with you family and friends