Foundation Inspires Teens To Read, Grow, Lead

As part of activities marking the 2026 International Women’s Day, Masterminds Community Foundation has taken its campaign for youth empowerment to some secondary schools in Lagos. It encouraged teenagers to cultivate the habit of reading and develop skills for personal growth and leadership.

The foundation visited Obanikoro Baptist High School, Lagos State Senior High School and Wasimi Community Senior High School, where it donated inspirational books and engaged students in discussions on emotional intelligence, self-development and lifelong learning.

According to its founder, Vivian Oghene, the outreach programme was designed to inspire young people to take deliberate steps toward improving their lives through consistent learning and positive habits.

She explained that the initiative also builds on the Foundation’s 2025 Emotional and Social Intelligence Awareness Campaign, which focused on equipping young people with the life skills needed to overcome challenges and build resilience.

Speaking during the visit to the schools, Oghene encouraged the students to understand the power of discipline and small daily habits.

“Just one hour a day, only four per cent of your time can change your life,” she said. “If you dedicate that time to learning and self-development every day, in ten years that small habit can put you far ahead of others.”

To reinforce students’ reading culture, the Foundation donated several carefully selected books aimed at inspiring leadership, financial literacy, and personal development.

The books distributed include The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey, Gifted Hands by Ben Carson, Think Big also by Carson, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki, and The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale.

Oghene noted that the books were carefully chosen for their practical lessons in character building, financial wisdom, discipline, and positive thinking.

“These books are more than stories; they are roadmaps that can help young people develop confidence, build a growth mindset and understand how to pursue success responsibly,” she said.

As part of efforts to sustain the initiative beyond the school visits, the Foundation also launched a Virtual Masterminds Teens Community where participating students can interact, discuss books, receive mentorship and engage in activities aimed at strengthening leadership capacity and emotional intelligence.

She added that, through the online platform, students are encouraged to dedicate at least one hour each day to reading while sharing insights with their peers and mentors.

The education advocate noted that such initiatives are crucial in a time when many young people face distractions that limit reading culture and personal development.

‘’By promoting reading, mentorship and emotional intelligence among teenagers, the Masterminds Community Foundation hopes to nurture a generation of young Nigerians equipped with the knowledge, discipline and leadership values needed to make meaningful contributions to society,’’ she said.