YTOP Global, in partnership with Caring Community Creators, has organized a seminar aimed at promoting identity, confidence, and personal growth among university students.
The event took place on Saturday, June 21, at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) campus in Ile-Ife, attracting hundreds of undergraduate students.
The seminar with the theme “Am I Enough?”, focused on mental health, self-worth, and the internal struggles many students silently face.
Speaking with Amiloaded, Founder of YTOP Global and host of the event, Oluwadamilare Ekundayo, described the seminar as an eye-opening experience for many participants.
He noted that mental health is often overlooked in academic institutions, yet it significantly impacts students’ performance and overall well-being.
Ekundayo said students often feel inadequate due to societal pressures, course selections, and unrealistic standards set by the world around them.
He stated that the positive feedback received showed the importance of making such conversations consistent and campus-wide.
Ekundayo added that the program, in partnership with Caring Community Creators, would be extended to other institutions across Nigeria in the near future.
He called on school authorities to prioritize students’ mental health by encouraging uplifting conversations and motivational support within classrooms.
Also speaking, the Mother of the Day, Prof. Bukola Oyebanji, praised the seminar, describing it as timely for addressing identity and mental health issues among students.
She stressed that students must go beyond listening and apply the lessons to their lives for lasting transformation.
Prof. Oyebanji expressed her desire to see the seminar replicated across the entire university, benefiting both students and staff.
In his remarks, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at OAU, Prof. Olalekan Soyelu, described the program as enlightening and essential.
He highlighted that identity, confidence, growth, and mental health are critical pillars for success both in school and beyond.
Prof. Shoyelu urged students to see themselves as uniquely created individuals with purpose, regardless of academic or societal limitations.
He encouraged them to approach life with a broad mindset, free from self-doubt or unnecessary restrictions.
According to him, embracing self-belief and acknowledging one’s unique value can unlock the confidence needed to thrive in any field.
In her own words, Dr. Adenike Adeyemi, a senior lecturer in the Department of Animal Science, OAU, emphasized that students must believe they are enough.
She said the goal of the seminar was to help students understand themselves, identify their strengths, and build confidence for consistent growth.
Delivering his Goodwill speech virtually, the co-founder of Sense Macres and Lecturer in The Netherlands, Prof. Jacob Duinstra, expressed his strong support for YTOP’s mental health initiative, describing the theme “Am I enough?” as timely and powerful. He urged young people to remove the question mark and embrace the truth that they are more than enough.
Highlighting challenges faced by Generation Alpha, Duinstra pointed to academic pressure, peer expectations, and identity struggles fueled by social media as key sources of anxiety. He criticized the outdated school system that still ties students’ worth to grades, stressing that “you are not your grade.”
Prof Duinstra encouraged young people to understand their identity and embrace adaptive leadership. He identified four leadership mindsets—controller, planner, pretender, and adapter—and called on youths to lead themselves with resilience and self-awareness.
Drawing on research and personal conviction, Duinstra emphasized the importance of self-acceptance, belonging, and faith. “You are more than capable,” he declared, urging participants to daily affirm their identity as enough, regardless of societal standards or setbacks.
Also speaking virtually on mental well-being, International Life Coach, Dr. Nitin Sarswat, urged people not to allow their minds to control them, while noting that the best form of creativity is finding solutions to problems.
Dr. Sarswat noted that everyone is the master of their own mind, emphasizing that mental health is a continuous practice that must be developed until individuals master the art of controlling their thoughts and processing their feelings into positive energy.
Also speaking, YTOP Regional Coordinator, Oluwadamilola Ayo-Ajakaiye, encouraged students to ask important questions about their self-worth but not dwell in uncertainty.
She urged them to take bold steps forward, even when it’s difficult, and to continue growing despite life’s pressures and setbacks.Ayo-Ajakaiye also called on school management to host more programs like this, which foster deep student-lecturer connections and promote overall development.
The highlights of the event included the presentation of a birthday gift to YTOP Global Regional Coordinator, Oluwadamilola Ayo-Ajakaiye, and a panel discussion.
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