Rotary International District 9111 will hold its 2026 Interact Conference on 17‑18 April 2026 at the Women Development Center in Ijaiye‑Ogba, Lagos. The event, themed "Uniting young leaders for future excellence", targets members aged 12 to 18 and aims to build leadership abilities while promoting the principle of Service Above Self.
District 9111 Governor Rotarian Henry Akinyele said the conference offers a "wonderful opportunity for young people to learn social and socially relevant values and take on responsibility in an intimate community of their peers." The District 9111 Interact Committee Chairman, Rotarian Bukonla Alamu, listed several speakers: Mubarak Agbaje, District 9111 Interactive Representative; Ambassador Juliet Obi, who will discuss entrepreneurship for teenagers and turning ideas into income; and Rotarian Mercy George‑Igbafe, who will address the use of artificial intelligence as a career development tool.
Rotary District 9111 Interact Committee Secretary Rotarian Abeni Adesanya added that Rotarian Oluwatosin Disu will speak on vocational empowerment, while Fashakin Olusegun will cover next‑generation leadership that blends academic achievement with practical strategies.
The most striking element of the conference is the inclusion of artificial intelligence as a career‑building topic for teenagers, signalling a deliberate shift toward tech‑centric skill development among Nigeria's youth leaders.
Rotary's agenda reflects a broader push to equip adolescents with market‑relevant competencies. By pairing entrepreneurship talks from Ambassador Juliet Obi with AI insights from Mercy George‑Igbafe, the programme acknowledges that future employment will hinge on both innovative thinking and digital fluency. The presence of speakers focused on vocational training and academic‑practical integration further underscores a holistic approach to youth empowerment.
For ordinary Nigerians, especially students in secondary schools, the conference could translate into tangible opportunities: access to mentorship on turning ideas into income, guidance on leveraging AI tools, and pathways to skill‑based jobs. Those in Lagos and surrounding regions stand to benefit most, given the event's location and the network of Rotary clubs that can facilitate follow‑up projects.
This focus on technology and entrepreneurship aligns with a growing trend of private‑sector and civil‑society groups stepping in to fill gaps in formal education, aiming to prepare the next generation for a rapidly evolving economy.
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