Hammed Kayode Alabi
on Education as a Force for Youth Empowerment
"Education saved me. There is probably another Hammed in a slum somewhere who needs to hear my story.”
The slums, for Hammed Kayode Alabi, are not a place of despair, but a place of beauty. He doesn't judge them by the harshness of the living conditions, but by the strength of the community, by how people love each other, and how no one is a stranger.
Hammed is a product of "both grace and circumstance." Growing up in Makoko, Africa’s largest floating slum in Nigeria, Hammed never imagined that he could even dare to dream. Adversity taught him not to be a passive bystander but to actively shape his future. The slum became the source of his creativity: from the dumpsite behind his house, the àbète, he would turn waste into toys and cars, finding joy in making something out of nothing.
"The Africa I Dream to See" is not just the title of his book. It’s a hope manifesto: “The continent of Africa will be changed by the people who live there. It can only happen through our resources: empowering our people with the right education and mindset to create this change. We all owe it to ourselves and humanity.”
An edtech leader, TEDx speaker, poet, and social entrepreneur, Hammed uses writing to make sense of the world. After losing his mother at the age of seven and watching his father struggle to find work, his early life was marked by challenges and joyful resilience: “Hawking helped me care about my community. Affording three meals was a luxury for my family, but I saw people who didn’t have access to food and children who did not have access to schools. I knew I should do something, I could never stop caring.”
At 15, he attended a program for vulnerable children in his community: “I learned that self-esteem was how you see yourself and the world. It changed me!” This moment shaped his vision: to found an initiative to help children develop 21st-century skills needed to navigate the world. He created Kayode Alabi Leadership and Career Initiative - KLCI which now equips thousands of underserved youth with life skills and career readiness: "Critical thinking skills are vital today. I admire those who think for themselves and respectfully share their perspectives. Having independent ideas while having respect for others says a lot about one’s character." Through his edtech platform, Skill2Rural Bootcamp (Africa and UK), he impacted over 100,000 young Africans. “In a world where many are used to receiving, a true giver will always stand out."
Hammed encourages us to celebrate the ones who supported us, the ones who said: I believe in you! We should be vessels for others, too: “I want to hear children say: Because somebody trusted me, I am here today, and I am also doing the same for another person.”
Read Hammed Kayode Alabi’s answers for Inspirators and be a genuine giver!
Thank you, Hammed, for being an Ambassador for Education!
#INSPIRATORS QUESTIONNAIRE
Name: Hammed Kayode Alabi
Company / Institution: Kayode Alabi Leadership and Career Initiative - KLCI
Title: Founder and CEO
Website: https://klciafrica.org/
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hammedkayodealabi/
Country of origin: Nigeria
Country you currently live in: United Kingdom
Your definition of Regeneration: Regeneration is being aware of how our consumption and production impact the world and the dangers they create. It raises the question: Is it necessary to regenerate rather than create something entirely new?
When I think about my context, regeneration has always been a part of our daily lives. From reusing plastics to storing food and water to drink, we have always practised sustainability in our own way.
Main business challenge you face: I believe it comes down to time—balancing multiple engagements and managing the risks that come with that balance. I also think a major challenge is raising significant resources and securing influence philanthropy, and credibility to scale the level of impact.
Main driver that keeps you going: It's the stories I have lived and how those experiences have continuously shaped my purpose and resilience to handle bigger challenges. Anything I face now, I have, in some way, encountered before—and knowing that I was able to overcome it then gives me the confidence to do so again.
For example, I was born and raised in the Makoko slum in Nigeria and spent most of my adolescent and teenage years in the slum or other underserved, hard-to-reach communities. Despite these challenges, I navigated my way through and founded an initiative to help children like myself develop the life and 21st-century skills needed to navigate the world. Just thinking about that journey gives me the courage to keep pushing forward. It feels like I have seen this movie before.
The trait you are most proud of in yourself: Contention—the ability to contend with and reflect on issues and situations—has been invaluable to me. It has helped me cultivate self-awareness, extend grace to myself and others, navigate rejections and setbacks, and embrace people’s experiences and stories with empathy.
Sometimes, I just want to be empty, so I can fill myself again.
The trait you most value in others: Critical and alternative thinking. It is challenging, but I deeply admire people who think for themselves and share their perspectives in a respectful manner. Having independent thoughts while maintaining respect for others says a lot about one’s character.
Passions & little things that bring you joy: Writing and poetry help me make sense of the world—they are things I never get tired of doing. I also love embracing my inner child and the freedom to play sometimes. I have a deep love for little ones; when you observe them, they can teach you so much about life.
The Inspirators who determined you to take the regenerative path: While this person may not be working directly on regeneration, she has made a significant impact in education. That person is Victoria Ibiwoye. Her reflexivity and leadership are qualities I deeply admire and aspire to. The way she creates space for others to grow and opens doors for them is truly commendable—especially how she does it with such humility and gratitude.
A starting point for companies or professionals that are beginning the regeneration journey: I believe that reflecting on processes and creating spaces for people within the company to discuss regeneration—and how their actions align with it—is essential. Bringing people together to engage in these conversations fosters ownership, shared values, and a collective commitment to meaningful change.
Most used and abused clichés in sustainability that bother you: It is actually the idea of “sustainability” itself. I would argue that sustainability still sounds Western—we need to redefine it in a way that acknowledges Indigenous knowledge and local contexts. Indigenous peoples and local African communities have been practising sustainability long before it gained popularity. Recognizing that knowledge and experience is a crucial starting point.
An honest piece of advice for young people who lose hope: I find grounding in this quote attributed to Antonio Gramsci: “Optimism of the will and pessimism of the intellect.”
I believe that while we should be critical of our world and environment, we must also hold on to hope in the face of uncertainties and complexities. Even in a world that seems overwhelming, we can still thrive.
Books that had a great impact on you / Must-Reads for any regenerative professional:
Start with Why and Infinite Games by Simon Sinek
Movies / Documentaries you would watch all over again: Piece by Piece played with a Lego by Pharell Williams and 3 Idiots.
Websites / Podcasts you visit frequently: Diary of a CEO and A Bit of Optimism.
Music that makes you (and your heart) sing: Can’t think of this at the moment. Actually, I have a taste for Hindi music - Tum Hi Ho by Arijit Singh.
Places you travelled to that left a mark on you: Saudi Arabia and Costa Rica. I think Saudi Arabia because of the cleanliness, the kindness of the people, and hospitality, was the best ever. Costa Rica is green and I was in a rainforest there with some lovely people, and the inspiration I felt tripled and the energy I felt as well. My creativity was at its peak to the extent that I was writing poetry on the spot.
Global Regenerative Voices you recommend us to follow: I actually do not follow many but I happened to meet Pepijn Duijvestein at the Nudge Global Impact Challenge and attend his session on regeneration and it was great to see how he embodies it in practice. It helped me rethink my idea about regeneration.
Trends in Regeneration we should keep an eye on: I am not someone who really keeps an eye on trends so I will pass on this one. Rather I would advise people to be reflective of wastage as they journey through life every day.
Events we should attend / Best places for networking (online or offline): I think the Nudge Global Impact Challenge and Festival in Heeze, Netherlands, was a great place to be. Passionate young and older people working on sustainability.
Impactful and relevant Sustainable Development or Regeneration courses or certifications: University of Pennsylvania Social Impact Strategy Course on Coursera. By completing the course, you have an opportunity to apply to join the Global Social Impact House Fellowship which I am an alumnus.
Reasons to feel optimistic about our future in 2030: I think we will be able to recall a lot of progress and young people like myself and others will be proud of our contribution towards development. That we were not just onlookers, we gave our best to the cause and that in itself is something to be proud of.
Reasons to feel pessimistic about our future in 2030: The problems in our society will remain the same, despite the changes and advancements in technology and AI or they may reproduce themselves in other ways that show divide rather than unity. My fear is my optimism.
Regenerative Leadership qualities much needed today: Self-awareness. It always starts with the understanding of you and it then transcends to others.
The Inspirator(s) you are endorsing for a future edition:
Gloria Loriya, I think she is someone who embodies the idea of Regeneration
Hikaru Hayakawa leads one of the largest youth climate activist groups in the world
Oluwaseyi Jesuton is one of the brightest young leaders in the social change space in Africa.
The deepness, thoughts and wisdom of Lilitha Buthi make her a great inspirator too.
The quote that inspires you:
"There is no such thing as the voiceless, they are just those who have been preferably unheard or deliberately silenced." (Arundhati Roy)
Your quote that will inspire us:
