Joshua Alade 

With people just like me, who have grown from really disadvantaged background and education or giving them wings to fly, another thing that he would take beyond just advocating is having an army of people like me, move up into the corridors of power in Nigeria, and say this is the change we want. We want a better nation, and we are putting up ourselves to be of service to make Nigeria better.

Paul Meunier 

Hello, I'm Paul Meunier, the executive director of the Youth Intervention Programs Association. And I'm a youth worker at heart. How lucky am I, I have the privilege to meet youth workers from around the globe and learn their stories and share them with the entire world. I'm glad you're listening because together we'll learn how their life experiences shaped their youth work. As you listen, I encourage you to consider how your experiences shape what you have to offer young people. Welcome to this edition of The Passionate Youth Worker.

Hi, everybody. For this episode, we're joined by Joshua Alade from West Yorkshire in England. Joshua is a Chevening scholar and a master student at the University of Bradford. He is the executive director of Nigeria Youth Sustainable Development Goals Network, and is extremely passionate about making a difference in the world. Joshua, thanks for being a guest and sharing your story on the podcast.

Joshua Alade 

Thank you so much, Paul. Perfect to be here. And let's make this happen.

Paul Meunier 

You're welcome. I am excited to learn more about you and your story, Joshua. You're in England right now. But your work thus far has mainly focused on helping young people in Nigeria. How did you end up in West Yorkshire?

Joshua Alade 

For me, it was more of trying to get better in my work with young people in advocating for meaningful youth engagement in Nigeria, and also talking about positive youth development. And this was how I applied for the Chevening scholarship award to be able to afford a master's degree in the UK. And you know, the United Kingdom has one of the best education system in the world. After applying for this scholarship, I guess they liked my story. They were also in awe of the work that I have done in Nigeria over the past five years. And they're like, yeah, you're a young leader that we should invest in. Come over to the UK and we'll teach you more around policy development, how to network, how to build, how to build yourself as a leader, and also how to have direct connection to further the work that you're doing back home in Nigeria. That's how I ended up in the UK.

Paul Meunier 

Well, congratulations on your scholarship. That's quite a big deal. And I'm certain it's going to propel you forward in a lot of great ways. And they saw some potential in you and I see the potential in you. And I think you have wonderful opportunities in front of you. And I know you're going to do great things. But let's start with just backing up a little bit. Did you know you always wanted to be involved in youth work?

Joshua Alade 

Growing up, no. Because like, I didn't even know what youth work was. I didn't know what youth work was. I grew up I found myself working in the church, at the junior church. In back home in Nigeria, I was a Sunday school teacher, then I also worked with the House Fellowship, that's after church. And that was how it started out for me. But later on in university, I just knew that what I really want to do is be a youth worker. And it is also like, it didn't sound like I want to be a medical doctor or I want to be a neurosurgeon, or I want to be an engineer, it was just different. Like how do you say you want to grow up to be a youth worker. But that's what I have been doing over the past five years of my life. And it's been exciting for me so far.

Paul Meunier 

What is it about youth work that those experiences that you've gone through attracted you to want to be good at this and try to make a big impact?

Joshua Alade 

Okay, great question, Paul. First is the fact that as a youth worker, I'm actually invested in the future of the present generation and also the future generation. I have this perfect opportunity to be able to guide and mentor young people based on the experiences that I have had growing up. And then most of the things that I have missed out on, things that I felt that a youth worker would have taken me through that didn't happen, and that's why I am a youth worker and that's why I am doing the work that I do. I want to be able to shine the light in someone's heart. I want somebody to be able to look back and say because I met Joshua, I'm able to go after my dream because I met Joshua, I never gave up. And that was inspiring my work in the youth development space.

Paul Meunier 

That's great. You met Joshua. And I think that's awesome. Was school easy for you when you were younger?

Joshua Alade 

No, it wasn't easy for me. It wasn't easy. I in fact, I did not start my primary education until I was eight. And this was because my parents were too poor to afford to send me to school. I am so grateful to God, because one of my uncle, my mom's younger brother actually brought me, put me into school, I had to live with his family. And it was a beautiful experience for me. I went through my primary education and my secondary school education, because of the opportunity that he gave to me. So that was it for me. I went to a public primary school and public secondary school, it was beautiful for me, Getting into the university, it's another ballgame entirely because I had to save my way, I had to pray my way, I had to work my way to making sure that I get a university education because I grew up seeing people who had gone to the university and how beautiful their life had turned out. And I toldmyself that I wouldn't stop in a secondary school education, I need to get university degree because for most of people that I've met, they are better off because they went to the university.

Paul Meunier 

Education is a life changer for sure. Your parents, was it hard for them to let you go live with your uncle? Did they see that as an opportunity and willingly allow you to go live with him?

Joshua Alade 

I think they were willing. And they saw it because they saw it as an opportunity for me to have a better life. Most times, when I speak with my siblings now, they told me they say,  Joshua, you are different. And I know it was difficult because there was a time my mom, she would always come visiting every weekend. If she can't come every weekend, she will come once every month. And for me as a child because I was so curious about the world, about a new environment, I really did not miss home that much. I didn't miss home that much. I know that for my mom, it was really difficult for her to let me go. Well, she saw it as an opportunity for her last child to get an education, to grow up in a better environment. Because where my parents were living is a very tough area in Lagos is called Bolade Oshodi. Like if you Google Bolade Oshodi, it's known for different various kinds of crimes, and a lot of other things that happen on the street.

Paul Meunier 

So you had some siblings. Did your siblings get the opportunity to get involved with school too, or have they not had that option?

Joshua Alade 

So my elder siblings were able to go to, they were able to make it through their secondary school education. I draw a lot of inspiration from my brother, he's late now, because for him, education was really very important. He had to leave home. He left home on his own accord because my parents couldn't afford to send him to secondary school. He left home to go stay with an uncle thousands of kilometers away from where my parents were. And that was where he got his secondary school education, just by sheer resilience and perseverance. So he's someone that really inspires me. Even right now, I thought about him. And I'm like, I'm doing this for you, Yusuf. That's his name. And like, I'm doing this. I'm getting a master's degree for you, too.

Paul Meunier 

That's great. And do you still talk to your mom and dad quite a bit?

Paul Meunier 

Yeah, I speak with my dad. My mom is late. She died about 11 years ago. So sometimes I think about my life and I tell myself that everything I am today is because my mom didn't give up on me. Her biggest dream was for me to go to the university. And so I was able to go (sobbing) like, I know that if she's alive today, she would be so proud. Really proud of me...(sobbing)

Paul Meunier 

That's Joshua, that's what I was going to say that you your mother would be so proud of you and I bet your father is as well. And to think about, Joshua, and I've had the opportunity to get to know you a little bit more than what some of our listeners have had the chance to. You have huge aspirations to change the world and to change policies for young people. And she's only going to get more and more proud of you every day. And I am so grateful that your mother saw potential in you and was willing to let you go live with your uncle because she knew that was the best opportunity for you. What a wonderful gift she gave to you.

Joshua Alade 

Yeah, I remember one time when I was in the university, and I was so broke. I didn't know what to do. That was my first year in university. And this was when she was really ill. And I didn't have money. So I just called her, I went to their house, and I told her, I'm really sorry you're sick. And I am so broke, I can't help you. And she was like, don't worry. If you go to the store, top of the fridge, you would see a container there, two containers inside one container, take them out. I've been keeping some money for you. Use it to do whatever you want to do. And every time I think about that scenario, I'm like this woman is on her deathbed. And she still was able to, it's not a lot of money but for me, it was the whole world. It was so much. And this is one memory of her that I really treasure. And I hope that when I become a dad too, I can do the same thing for my children.

Paul Meunier 

She sounds like a beautiful person. I'm so sorry for your loss. So your siblings say, Joshua, you're so different now that you're in college. How has your education changed you, Joshua, what things are different for you now?

Joshua Alade 

My education has made me see that all you just need is a dream. A determination and a good heart make a difference in the world. Made me see that no matter how difficult it might be, if you just have that determination, and you say I really want to make change happen. Doors will open up for you. It also made me see how I can better contribute to my country. Because I told myself if I never went to school, a lot of things that I have been able to do in Nigeria, especially when it comes to youth work, especially when it comes to supporting people who have aspirations to get into youth work or volunteers would never have happened. So my education has given me wings to fly. It has also given me this gear that I believe in myself as a person that I matter and that I am in this world to make great things happen.

Paul Meunier 

Good for you for taking this opportunity and running with it for all it's worth. The education has given you wings to fly is a beautiful way to look at what has been presented to you. And I know you take that so seriously and want so bad to make an impact on other people. Where does that passion to help other people come from Joshua?

Joshua Alade 

My passion to help people come from my mom. I grew up seeing my mom help people. They used to run this roadside canteen where she sells food. And I remember one time a man, someone who is mad, like everybody knows that this person is mad. And the man would always come every morning to my mom's door. And with plate and say give me food. And she just dishes out foods to him. And sometimes he comes, I don't have soup. And then she goes get soup for this person. And I said why are you helping this man, nobody wants to associate themselves with him. They know that he is trouble within this community. And so if nobody helps him, I am somebody that God has sent to help him. This is something I grew up seeing how to, I've watched my mom go out of our way to help people even when these are the place of discomfort. She just reaches out to help. And my uncle and his wife, they are both ministers. And I've seen them also go out of their way to support people, sometimes keeping up late nights trying to visit people in the hospital, trying to support someone with their education. And I'm seeing them give of the little that they have to support other people and I told myself that this is the life I want to live. At one point. I thought being a medical doctor was going to be it because I wanted to help people. Doctors helping people but I'm doing youth work right now and I'm helping people so it's a good thing.

Paul Meunier 

Yeah, and you can help people just as much and keep young people alive by doing youth work without question. The same as a medical doctor can. We don't often think about, like how big of an impact we have on young people, but that's very true. Do you still see your uncle, Joshua?

Joshua Alade 

No, I saw my uncle just three times in the last five years. I saw him twice between 2020 and 2021.

Paul Meunier 

Got it. Well, Joshua, it's hard to believe we're at a point in the podcast where we have to take a break. But when we come back, I have a lot more I would like to ask you about what you'd like to achieve now that you've given these wings to fly, so we'll be right back.

Jade Schleif 

No matter how you support our young people, The Professional Youth Worker powered by YIPA has your training and learning needs covered, visit training.yipa.org. That's training.yipa.org to see for yourself, and then join the 1000s of youth workers around the globe who learn from our easy to access exceptional trainings. From our blogs to our podcast, The Professional Youth Worker is your go-to resource for tools to help you keep going, keep learning, and keep growing. Members enjoy free unlimited access to live online and on-demand trainings, and a preferred discount pricing for our one of a kind certificate course. Annual memberships are ridiculously affordable for individuals and organizations. Visit training.yipa.org today to learn more. That's training.yipa.org.

Paul Meunier 

Joshua, right before the break, I was asking you about what you'd like to see accomplished. And I know you have big goals, and you work on policy change, you love doing the advocacy work to try to develop systems that will help young people. If you could change one thing right now, what policy would that be? What would you like to see happen?

Joshua Alade 

I would like to see people back home in Nigeria, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds, get more access to quality education. And which would also lead to them having decent work. That's something I want. Because I've seen the transformative power of education in my own life. It's something that a lot of young people in Nigeria have not had the opportunity for. I want the government to move up the needle in respects of financing for education. Currently, it's at 5%. I want to see it at 25%, I want to see it at 30%. Because in that way, more people can be able to have the right quality education and transform life.

Paul Meunier 

What do you think it's going to take from you to convince these leaders, these lawmakers, these politicians to pay attention to what you're talking about?

Joshua Alade 

Consistent advocacy, showing stories of the transformative power of education with people just like me, who have grown from really disadvantaged backgrounds, and education has given them wings to fly. Another thing that it will take beyond just advocacy is having an army of people like me, move up into the corridors of power in Nigeria, and say, this is the change we want. We want a better nation. And we are putting up ourselves to be of service to make Nigeria better.

Paul Meunier 

Joshua, in the United States, people who work with young people these days are impressed with the current generation of young people. They're very socially active. They're very engaged in the world in terms of poverty, and in terms of climate, and in terms of equity. What do you think about the young people in Nigeria? Are they ready to take on what you're hoping to see happen? Are there a lot of people willing to join you and follow you to make some of these things happen?

Joshua Alade 

Yes, yes, there are a lot of people who are willing to make this change happen. And what they just need is the opportunity. As young people, we already know that nobody's going to give us the opportunity. We've seen it over the past 4, 5, 6 years of our lives. Everywhere in the world, nobody gives young people the opportunity. So we need to stand up. We need to make a demand to be at the table. We need to also develop our own capacity to lead. We need to brush up our knowledge when it comes to leadership, when it comes to policy and making change happen. Thats the only way when somebody does not give you the opportunity. You need to be able to come up with superior arguments. And that comes with education, learning and being mentored on what to do and how to do it.

Paul Meunier 

I'm grateful that you are trying to lead that charge. As we've been getting to know each other we've talked a lot before we started recording this podcast episode. And you mentioned that you're pretty much an introvert. How does an introvert want to lead an army of people to facilitate change?

Joshua Alade 

So it's just so funny because I'm the last born and last borns are not supposed to be the introvert. So outside, I'm in the middle. Sometimes it's easier for me to, from my vantage point, see problems and the solutions to those problems, and I am able to work around people that would make it happen. And that's what has inspired the work that I do at Nigeria Youth SDG Network, basically about championing change, local accountability for the Sustainable Development Goals. I saw what the challenges were for youth, when it comes to working within the UN system in Nigeria, working with private sector organization and international nonprofits, and I have been able to strategically position an organization that in less than four years to start working on policies for Nigeria, to start demanding for change. That's my superpower, being able to stand from the back what was happening and move forward with everyone to make change happen.

Paul Meunier 

That's awesome, Joshua. Do you ever find that you have moments of self doubt or are you just crystal clear about what needs to happen and what your role in that is going to be?

Joshua Alade 

So yeah, everyone, like for me, most especially I have that point when I ask myself, what are you doing? Do you think this is possible? I remember, I watched a YouTube video I made in 2017, or 2019 through 2018, where I was talking about some plans hat was supposed to happen in 2019. And this was me in 2020 you watching it. Yes, everything I said was going to happen happened. What gave you the audacity? What gave you the right to think what you've thought, and make that happen. So yes, I have self doubts. And when the doubts come up, I just get to work. That's the only way I am able to let them go. And then now, when those doubts also come, I remind myself, Joshua, you've done XYZ. If you can do it, then you can do more.

Paul Meunier 

When you have those moments of doubt, do you have people you talk to to regain your focus or to help you get through those points? Or how do you manage those moments of where the clarity isn't quite as bright.

Joshua Alade 

The first thing I do is pray. I have this awesome relationship with God. I'm a Christian. So I pray for my ideas. I always say they are inspired by the Holy Spirit. Even when I do not know how clear they are. What I just do after praying is I call my wife. She just  knows how to build my ideas and make them look amazing. So whenever I am, I don't know what to do but this is the idea. I just share it. I'm like, hi babe. This is the plan. So it's like, okay, let's do it this way. What do you think? And I'm like, what you're saying is right, let's do it. And it just becomes so beautiful! With her coming in. And I'm so grateful that she's in my life. I'm so grateful because she's someone who God has used to, to put a lot of structure and perspective to everything that I am becoming right now.

Paul Meunier 

Ah your wife sounds wonderful too. You've had some wonderful women in your life.

Joshua Alade 

Yes, I have. I have been lucky. I have three awesome sisters, and my wife is the icing on the cake.

Paul Meunier 

Yeah. Your spiritual beliefs, your Christianity is really important to you. I know that. Where did that come from? Where did you get exposure to faith, God, and religion.

Joshua Alade 

It was when I went to live with my uncle. Growing up as a child I usually sing it might be That's when I was living my parents I usually sing and my songs were more of trying to connect to some higher power, which I didn't know what it was. So when I went to live with my own uncle I saw them go to church, I saw them pray. And I saw everything like if there's an issue, they would always go to God in prayer. And at one point in my life, I'm like, this is the right thing to do. I like, I've seen evidence of every one of these things work for them. They're praying on and I decided to go on a personal journey myself, I remember sitting down somewhere, I used to run a bookstore, after my secondary school education and just in that bookstore and I'm just, I just thought, God, dear Lord, I just want to work with you. I need you to guide me, and I need you to order my steps. And that was how my relationship of faith started booming.

Paul Meunier 

It's wonderful that you have that. Doing what you want to do takes a lot of dreaming, and a lot of visionary kind of perceptions of what the world could be like. What kind of things cause you to have despair? When you start thinking about what could be? What obstacles do you face? What things that make you think, oh, boy, this is going to be difficult, or this is going to be the biggest challenge? What are some of those things?

Joshua Alade 

I don't see obstacles. Most times I see opportunities. And I just tell myself, what can we do? Every time there's an issue, there's a challenge I just ask myself, what can be done. I start thinking about it. Like, for instance, when COVID happened to young young people in Nigeria, and a lot of people were scared. What do we do? The next thing I thought about I spoke to my team, I said, what do we need to do right now. People are scared. How can we inspire hope? It led us to come up with this publication that we call, we call it COVID positive stories. Because when there's a story about oh you are positive for COVID, so you have to isolate. So we came up with these stories of action of young people taking positive action against COVID. People were making and giving out nose masks, people were making hand sanitizers. people were running food banks. And we use this as an opportunity to inspire other young people that even in the midst of this pandemic you can actually do something positive. And it also was what led us to team with the Federal Minister of Youth and Sports in Nigeria and the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs to work on the Nigerian youth employment action plan, as a policy document by the Nigerian government to support young people in the light of COVID-19. Especially those who have lost their livelihood and employment.

Paul Meunier 

When you think about your life, and your situation growing up as you did, and now the opportunities in front of you, do you have like a life motto, or words you live by that keep you so grounded and centered?

Joshua Alade 

I tell myself that if, Joshua, if you have this slight picture of a better life, always make sure you hold it tight with superglue in your hand. And every day, every month, every year, I see something small, make it bigger, hold it close to you. This is going to be life transforming, this is going to be  a game changer! I would remember for instance, when I finished my youth service, and I had to go back home. So the youth service is a one year program for graduates of higher institution in Nigeria whereby you go to another state to to serve your fatherland. And when I go back home, what am I going to do next? I started volunteering for a nonprofit. And from there I started learning how to write grants. I wrote the first grant for them, it was $5,000. And this was 2015. Yet it was  like if I could do this, it means that I can do more. It has started opening more doors for me, it's also what inspires the work I do. And the way I live my life. Every time I see a slight picture be better, like I hold it tight, I dream about it also and make it happen.

Paul Meunier 

That's a wonderful metaphor about holding the picture of what you see in the future. And holding it with superglue in your hand so that it never slips away. That's a wonderful way to think about it. Joshua, I'm so glad that we've got to meet and I'm so glad that you're doing what you do. The world is in desperate need of people with your passion and your commitment. And our young people everywhere I believe are someday going to be better off because of you and because of your ability to drive change and to hold on to that picture of what the world could be. And never let go of it. So thank you for the work you do. And thank you for being a guest on the podcast.

Joshua Alade 

Thank you so much, Paul. And it's been a joy and an honor to be here.

Paul Meunier 

Feeling is mutual. What words of wisdom or inspiration would you like to leave with our listeners today, Joshua?

Joshua Alade 

For the word of wisdom I would like to leave with everyone is the same word I say to myself every time there's an opportunity. If you have a slight picture of a better life, if you have a slight picture of something that's going to make you better as an individual. Please hold it tight, don't let it slip from you. Don't listen to anybody telling it's not going to happen. Don't listen to the doubts in your head. Just hold it tight because they are going to happen.

Paul Meunier 

If you would like to share your passion for youth work, we'd love to spotlight you as a guest. If you have feedback about the show, please let us know. Just visit training.yipa.org. That's training.yipa.org and click on the podcast tab. This podcast is made possible in part due to a generous contribution from M Health Fairview. I'm your host Paul Meunier. Thanks for listening to The Passionate Youth Worker