Oladotun Ajayi, other Nigerian youths honoured with Diana Award

TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD Oladotun Ajayi has been awarded the 2023 Diana Award for inspiring positive change through social media and in the country.

The change-maker from Oyo State is currently a fourth-year Nursing student at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and the co-founder of Students on LinkedIn.

Ajayi was honoured with the award for using Students on LinkedIn to reach out to university students in Nigeria and across the world.

Through his work with Students on LinkedIn, he has increased the number of students maximising the platform for career opportunities by 65 per cent. His impact has changed the narrative and has inspired his peers to leverage the platform for career development.

According to the organisers of the award − which is a charity set up in memory of Diana, the Princess of Wales − the recipients of the 2023 Diana Award Roll of Honour are exceptional young people who have demonstrated their ability to inspire and mobilise new generations to serve their communities and create long-lasting change on a global scale.

CEO of the award, Tessy Ojo, said, “We know by receiving this honour they will inspire more young people to get involved in their communities and begin their change-making journey.”

Ajayi stated that the award has given him more assurance that it is possible to do great things from a small place.

He added that the award is a huge milestone on the path that he has chosen, which is bridging the gap between students and opportunities through LinkedIn for the promotion of economic growth and decent work for all.

Other Nigerian young change-makers honoured with the 2023 Diana Award are Eduek Nsentip, Uforo Nsentip, Favour Abatang, Olalekan Ajayi, Regina Ateb, Abdulhammed Babatunde, Yusuf Babatunde, Blossom Egbude, Chiamaka Juliet Osueke, Joel Mordi, Covenant Odedele, Joy Offere, Melody Okereke, Iyiola Oladunjoye, Oluwatomi Olunuga, and Onyinye Omenugha.