Ibadan is full with energy this week as student leaders from different universities and polytechnics across Nigeria troop into the city for this year’s JCI Nigeria Collegiate Conference, famously called LAYIPO ’25.

The conference, which is a key event for young people under the JCI Nigeria Collegiate arm, is holding at Ilaji Resorts in Ibadan. It brings together hundreds of young, passionate individuals for leadership training, networking, and discussions aimed at building future changemakers.

In the weeks leading to the conference, there was a lot of excitement both on radio and social media. One of the major highlights was the special LAYIPO ’25 session aired on Diamond FM, the University of Ibadan’s radio station, where people got more information about the event and what to expect.

As expected, the opening day was filled with high energy. Delegates took part in sessions like Life After School (LAS). The atmosphere was filled with excitement, as participants looked forward to learning, making new friends, and being part of something bigger than themselves.

Throughout the conference, attendees have been participating in different training sessions covering topics like personal leadership, project management, campus development, and media relations. Earlier this year, JCI Nigeria Collegiate leaders even visited the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ibadan as part of their preparations, showing their commitment to building partnerships and amplifying youth voices.

Famous Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has advised young women to be intentional when choosing who they marry.

Speaking at the Dream Count event, Adichie pointed out how much a life partner can influence a woman’s journey. She urged women not to rush into marriage out of pressure or desperation, adding that choosing the wrong person can affect one’s life for years.

She also encouraged women to find fulfilment in themselves, no matter their passion or path. “It’s really important for a woman to have her own thing, something that brings her fulfilment, no matter what it is,” Adichie said.

She continued, “Be careful who you choose. Sometimes, deep down, you know the person you’re with isn’t good for you, but because you’re eager to settle down, you ignore the signs. Don’t settle. The person you marry plays a huge role in how your life turns out. If you choose someone who is kind and supportive, it changes everything. There are good men out there.”

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, believes that despite his shortcomings, former President Muhammadu Buhari performed better than the current administration under President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Amaechi admitted Buhari didn’t achieve everything he set out to do, but insisted that things were still better under his leadership compared to now. “Buhari will be the first to tell you he didn’t accomplish all his plans, but by every standard, his government outperformed this one,” Amaechi said.

The former Rivers State governor pointed to areas like security and the independence of institutions, especially the electoral commission, as key areas where Buhari did better. “In terms of security, Buhari placed more focus there. When it comes to the independence of INEC, there was far more freedom under Buhari than we’re seeing now,” he added.

Amaechi also criticised the current state of politics, claiming that new political parties can’t even get registered because of interference from government officials. He made it clear that his comments are not personal, saying he would have been the first to commend President Tinubu if things were going well.