Part 2: Before C4AIK — INGOsphere9ja: Turning Passion into Preparation

As I organised FIDAF, many people assumed that I had strong connections within the development sector. It is true that I met many people and formed valuable friendships, but I kept those relationships professional and respected them without using them for personal gain.

I did not make demands outside the purpose of FIDAF—the platform that brought us together. However, the continued requests for jobs made me ask an important question: how prepared were people themselves for work in the development sector?

Some were National Youth Service Corps members who attended the tournament. Others were already working in the sector, while many simply wanted to enter the field but had nowhere to gain the knowledge they needed.

Recognising the knowledge gap

I discovered that onboarding was often limited. Many people did not understand the professional ethics, policies and procedures required to work effectively within NGOs and international development organisations.

This led me to begin personal coaching. I also supported friends with MBA assignments and gradually developed a training approach focused on practical, sector-relevant knowledge.

While working at Mercy Nigeria, I knew I had to begin what I had postponed for too long: the training arm of my passion. Beside this, I am also a B.ed graduate.

I first obtained written approval from my then Country Director, Ivetta Ouvry, so that I could provide private coaching legally and transparently, without it becoming a conflict with my employment.

After my stay at Mercy Corps Nigeria, INGOsphere9ja was later registered to capture the purpose of the initiative: preparing people to understand, enter and succeed in the INGO and development-sector work environment in Nigeria.

Beginning with young people

In 2017, I reached out to the NYSC camp in Abuja and had the opportunity to train corps members using a curriculum I had developed. That experience confirmed that people did not only need job opportunities; they needed preparation, confidence and practical knowledge.

The journey came with discouragement, but my passion was not one that gave up easily. Over time, the training grew into a platform offering knowledge support, coaching and practical preparation for people seeking to improve their careers in the development sector.

INGOsphere9ja does not give or promise jobs. We help people recognise the knowledge, skills and competencies they already possess, identify their gaps, and prepare themselves to pursue the opportunities they want.

I also help trainees identify the training they need. For example, someone seeking a leadership role may need a basic understanding of administration—not only to perform their own duties, but also to understand and lead the work of their team.

A practical and flexible approach

Today, INGOsphere9ja offers a variety of courses and provides both onsite and online training. Our online sessions remain interactive, and we generally avoid more than two hours of training per day to prevent information overload.

Training can be arranged around the learner’s schedule, including early mornings, late hours and weekends. Onsite sessions are tailored to the specific work demands of development-sector employees, while pre-booking determines facilitation availability.

What began as a personal passion has grown into a practical platform for preparation. INGOsphere9ja focuses on impact, and that focus has kept us going.

In Part 3, I will share the stories of people whose training and preparation with INGOsphere9ja helped them move into new opportunities.