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In 2010, Babalola Williams received the prestigious Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Award for Excellence and the NYSC (National Youth Service Corp) Overall Best Corp Member Award, recognizing his extraordinary contributions during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) year. This award, bestowed upon only the top 0.001% of corps members, highlights Babalola’s exceptional impact on educational infrastructure and community development. A decade later, the impact of his work continues to resonate, influencing industry practices and inspiring new generations of leaders and project/program managers. As the next batch of NYSC candidates prepare, we revisit Babalola’s remarkable journey to highlight the enduring significance of his achievements and the lessons they offer for the future.
Corp Member Award, Babalola. How does it feel to be recognized for your efforts?
Babalola Williams: Thank you. It’s an incredible honor to receive this recognition. Reflecting on the recognition from a decade ago brings a sense of pride and accomplishment. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication I put into my project and highlights its ongoing impact on the community and my professional journey. It feels rewarding to see the impact of my work acknowledged at such a high level. I’m grateful for the support I’ve received and excited about the future. Winning an award was not a goal or an aspiration I had but creating a catalyst to creating the needed systemic change and making a substantial and lasting impact.
Babalola Williams: Certainly. During my NYSC year, I led a personal social responsibility (PSR) project. The project was a personal initiative to revitalize Onna People’s High School (OPHS), a dilapidated secondary school in Akwa Ibom State. I focused on addressing infrastructural development – modernizing facilities by providing desks and lockers, introducing possible new technologies, and improving educational resources. Over the years, the project’s impact has grown, inspiring similar initiatives across the region and significantly enhancing the educational environment for thousands of students. Specifically, the project improved educational facilities for over 5,250 students within the span of 21 academic terms, leading to a 30% increase in academic performance within the first year and a decrease in the dropout rate.
The project also created economic growth and job creation by empowering the local artisans to develop these infrastructural developments. The project stands as a model of what successful project planning and execution within the shortest possible time looks like and a clarion call to improvement in the learning environment of schools and nation building.
Babalola Williams: I was moved by the condition of the students when I first visited the school. It was unacceptable, more so for a school that ranked number 2 in the local government region. Students were forced to sit on the dusty, bare floor as there were no available desks and seats to accommodate the class sizes. I questioned how these students would confidently compete in today’s fast-paced world, with technology closing the gap and making us one big global village. Seeing them struggle to learn without basic furniture sparked my passion to make a change. I was motivated by a deep desire to make a tangible difference. Education is vital, and providing a conducive learning environment is a step towards ensuring these students have a better future. Education is a powerful tool for change, and I wanted to provide students with the resources they need to succeed. This experience has shaped my career, reinforcing my commitment to leveraging my skills for community / national development and innovation.
Babalola Williams: It was incredibly significant and an honor. Having my project personally commissioned by Brigadier General M.I Tsiga and represented by Governor Akpabio was a strong validation of the work I did and was doing. It provided a platform for broader recognition and support, which was crucial for the project’s success and sustainability. I was not seeking recognition, but receiving a phone call from the Office of the Director General of NYSC enquiring about the stage at which I was working on my project and expressing interest in commissioning my project remains an honor. It is a clear example that people are watching. It highlighted the importance of what I was doing and its impact on the state and Nation at large. It validated my efforts and provided a morale boost and visibility to the desired transformation and systematic change I sought.
Babalola Williams: I faced numerous challenges, from logistical issues to resource constraints. My project management and strategic planning expertise was critical in navigating these obstacles. For example, one significant challenge was the lack of adequate access to production materials. I overcame this by securing partnerships with a high-profile out-of-state school, resulting in access to their vendors and materials, providing access to needed materials, and meeting project launch. By fostering strong teamwork and maintaining a clear focus on our goals, I overcame these challenges and achieved the objectives.
Babalola Williams: One of the key lessons I’ve learned is the importance of resilience and adaptability. These qualities are crucial in any project, especially when dealing with complex systems and diverse stakeholders. I also learned the value of community engagement and the impact of inclusive leadership, which continues to guide my approach today. This emphasis on community engagement has influenced my approach to stakeholder management in large-scale projects, leading to more inclusive and sustainable outcomes.
Babalola Williams: I am dedicated to creating transformative change in economic development and the technology sector. I believe these areas present both risks and opportunities for the present-day AI revolution and the future. I aim to continually leverage my skills to drive positive developments in these sectors.
Babalola Williams: The NYSC plays a vital role in national development. It fosters unity and provides opportunities to make meaningful contributions to their communities. My experience has shown me how impactful our contributions can be, and I hope more corps members will undertake meaningful projects. For today’s candidates, it’s a platform to gain valuable experience, develop leadership skills, and create lasting impact.
Babalola Williams: One memorable moment was seeing the students’ and teachers’ faces light up when the new desks and lockers were unveiled was incredibly rewarding. Their excitement and gratitude were overwhelming and reinforced the importance of our work.
Babalola Williams: The project led to a ~15% improvement in graduation rates and decline in dropout rate from junior secondary to senior secondary. Additionally, the local economy benefited from the creation of 50 new jobs related to the school’s expansion. Today, Insidibe, one of the students of OPHS, is a university graduate.
Babalola Williams: Receiving these awards has profoundly impacted my career and professional opportunities. Firstly, it significantly enhanced my credibility and recognition within the field of project and program management. The Awards for Excellence are prestigious honors that underscore my ability to deliver impactful projects. This recognition has opened numerous doors for me, allowing me to take on more complex and high-profile projects in my professional career, such as international development, to mention a few that have further honed my skills.
Additionally, the awards have provided a platform for me to advocate for better project management practices, community engagement strategies, and technology. They have allowed me to speak at conferences, workshops, and seminars, sharing my experiences and insights with a broader audience. This has expanded my professional network and positioned me as a thought leader.
