Hammed Kayode Alabi

Social Entrepreneur| Board Member @peacefirstorg| TedX Speaker| 3x Author| Poet| Alumnus @EdinburghUni @africanstudies @Mcfscholarsed|Founder @klci_initiative

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

The story you may still not find in the news. I hope it inspires someone not to give up.

I was raised and born in Makoko
I lost my Mum at 7
We moved to Bariga at 12, another slum in Lagos
My dad lost everything at 12, sold his property, and a couple of stuff
I hawked sweet and spaghetti at 13
At 15, I was awarded the best prefect in my secondary school
At 15, I also worked as a labourer in construction sites
At 15, I taught basic education in a nursery school
At 15, we were sent packing from our rented apartment in Bariga. Nearly homeless for the first time.
At 17, I worked as Airtel KYC agent, registering sim
At 17, I got admission into the University of Ilorin
At 19, 20, won the University of Ilorin scholarship award
At 20, appointed as the deputy commandant of the Nigerian Red Cross
At 21, in my final year last semester had a 5.0 GPA, scored A in my project dissertation.
At 21, Graduated as the best student in my department
At 22, won the NYSC Edo State Award.
At 23, Founded a non-profit to support children of my kind.
At 23, attended my First international conference.
At 23, started a blog with over 275k views and readership from more than 20+ countries
At 24, selected as an SDGs Youth Champion with African Monitor and engaged Office of the Senate President
At 24, selected as a Fellow, Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative and winter $5000 grant with other 4 fellows.
At 24, won the Keenista African Youth Competition Award (top 2 -7) prize.
At 24, awarded Talent of the Future Africa
At 24, featured by UNFPA as a global goal champion
At 24, spoke at an international summit
At 25, won the United State Consul General Award
At 25, completed, authored my first book and sold in more than 3 countries
At 25, became a Fellow-in-Residence and Regional Manager of a global non-profit in the United States (Peace First)
At 25, won a scholarship in the UK (IDS)
At 25, facilitated in another continent outside Africa
At 25, made my first million in Naira
At 26, won two most prestigious scholarships (Chevening and Mastercard Foundation Scholarship)
At 26, studying at The University of Edinburgh (top 16 in the world, best in Scotland and top 5 in the UK)
At 26, completed my second book titled 5 years
At 27 graduated from the The University of Edinburgh
At 27, won the First-ever Ufahamu Africa Essay contest for my piece on life and politics in Africa
At 27, Published my Second book “5 Years” on Amazon
At 27, became, the first young African Board Member at Peace First
At 27, worked with the MasterCard Foundation and co-created a mentoring programme for refugees in Uganda
At 27, got a role with Refugee Education UK.
At 27 became a World Economic Forum, Global Shaper.
At 28, won Oxford Rhodes Scholars-in-Residence African Finance Initiative Grant to scale my social innovation Skill2Rural Bootcamp.
At 28, spoke at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris as a youth delegate at the pre-summit of the Transforming Education Summit.
At 28, worked with the British Red Cross, and coordinate the Refugee and Befriending Programme in Hammersmith, London.
At 28, worked as a Research Assistant with the Mastercard Foundation at the University of Edinburgh on the Identity in Transition project
At 28, invited as a guest lecturer by the Open University, UK to take a module on communications for development.
At 28, partnered with the American corner to organise a launch and learn event for my second book “5years” the room was filled
At 28, presented at the University of Edinburgh Teaching and Learning Conference and was featured by them too.
At 28, made the University of Edinburgh Climate 75 list
At 29, selected as 1 of the 20 for the University of Pennsylvania Centre for social impact strategy Global Social Impact House Fellowship. Was the youngest in the Fellowship.
At 29, Co-authored and published my third book titled “Career Wisdom” and all profit goes to my non-profit.

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

The gaze tells you the story. So before you judge me, look at my gaze first. Look at my story first and all you would see is the gaze of a child running.

All the story you need is right in my gaze and it is a gaze of a seven-year-old who never stopped running.

From Nigeria 🇳🇬 to the world 🌍
From Africa to the world 🌎

From one local to another one, from one global to another one. From one stage to another stage. From one city to another city. From lack of clarity to one. From speaking when I was nothing to one. From choosing to be an inspiration rather than a speaker. From building the @KLCI_Initiative to speaking about it in multiple world cities.

Makoko,
Olambe,
Matogun,
Lagos,
Ogun,
Oyo,
Ilorin,
Montreal,
Edinburgh,
Bath,
Canada,
Accra,
United Kingdom,
And so on.

You can still see the dreams in my gaze! It is still the dream of a child running.

[Olúwáférànmi Adéyemo, PhD @FeranmiFerary]

Whenever I reflect on why I should never give up, one person that always comes to mind was my immediate senior brother.

After secondary school, he spent 4 years moving from one university admission opportunity to another but to no avail. Not that he failed these exams but the Nigerian education admission system wasn’t favourable.

There was a time he enrolled for the Nigerian Defence Academy to join the military but he sustained an injury and couldn’t complete the process.

After this, he started a pre-degree programme for two years and finally secured direct entry to study Estate Management. By then, 6 years had passed, and many of his peers had already completed their degrees and/or NYSC.

2 years into the programme, he made a bold move. He left the programme and moved to Russia to study Aircraft Operations Engineering at Saint-Petersburg State University for Civil Aviation.

This meant another 6 years of studying and spending 12 years in total chasing his dream when it appeared that many of his mates are far ahead in life ahead of him.

But then, success has a way of bridging the gap between you and those who have gone ahead of you. Within a few years after graduation, he became a Senior Aircraft Maintenance Engineer.

His journey taught me one of life’s greatest lessons: no one truly understands how another person’s story will unfold. Meanwhile, success is not a race and does not follow a universal timetable. Life often rewards those who refuse to give up on themselves.

This is why I will always be inspired by resilient people like my brother and my dear brother—Mr Toyyib @taadelodun. Their stories always remind me that persistence can take you further than talent, timing, or circumstance ever could.

[Somaya Albhaisi, MBBCh, MPH, FACP 🗝️🇵🇸 @SomayaAlbhaisi]

Honored & excited to be attending & presenting at #EASL2026 for the very first time in Barcelona! Looking forward to connecting with so many inspiring researchers & clinicians.

If you’re attending, come check out my posters (TH 6 & 7) - would love to chat and meet you there!

[Somaya Albhaisi, MBBCh, MPH, FACP 🗝️🇵🇸 @SomayaAlbhaisi]

🚀 NEW EPISODE OUT #ماوراءالصحة🌍

What happens when you bring social entrepreneurship into medicine?

I interviewed innovator & social entrepreneur @iamkayfactor to break down a blueprint for lasting medical impact. Thank you, Hammed!

Watch & Subscribe: https://t.co/XOCOzP3kip

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

The video is an excerpt of my Keynote speech at the McGill Africa Umoja Summit led by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at McGill University @mcgillu

Had a great time in Montreal and I hope to be back. Making its way to one of my favorite cities.

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

For a very long time I used to think my purpose was my story. No, it wasn't. It was my grief. It was through that five letter words that I found my purpose. It was how I started creating and it was how I have found meaning and a reason to love.

[Olúwáférànmi Adéyemo, PhD @FeranmiFerary]

🚨GLOBAL TALENT VISA (Research Route) X SPACE 🚨

Following the numerous messages and questions from prospective applicants on how to successfully apply for the UK Global Talent Visa (Research Category), I’ll be hosting an insightful X Space this Sunday featuring current GTV recipients 🎓🇬🇧

They’ll be sharing:
✨ Their application journey
✨ Key strategies and lessons learned
✨ Common mistakes to avoid
✨ Tips for building a strong portfolio/evidence

If you’re a researcher, academic, PhD student, or aspiring applicant considering the Global Talent Visa research route, this conversation will be highly valuable.

You’ll also have the opportunity to connect with recipients in your field and ask them questions about recent changes and how to better prepare your application.

🗓 Date: May 17
⏰ Time: 5PM (GMT+1)
📍Venue: X Space

https://t.co/g3Bz0bPpms

Please help retweet: @taadelodun @ireteeh @iamkayfactor @TosinOlugbenga @the_Lawrenz @oko_chukwuemeka @AskMichaelTaiwo @Yemisiolufemi

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

I just spoke about this on Rapid TV just a few days ago. If we leave those who score the lowest of the low in our entrance exam and send them to the Colleges or Faculty of Education, what kind of students are we going to produce for the workforce? Now there isn't a cut-off.

[JAMB @JAMBHQ]

Candidates seeking admissions into Education Programs and Agriculture non-Engineering Courses are now exempted from UTME.

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

The school can become a space where young people harness their full potential. The school can be a space for plurality, innovation and creation. Where young people can express themselves beyond who they think they are.

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

I have had the chance to speak on multiple diverse panels, and one of the things I have learned is “Hold your own”

Hold your own thoughts. Share them passionately in your own voice, and know that your voice is as important as others'.

Sometimes because of your background or where you come from, you may want to shrink. You may want to think your stories don't matter. That your voice, words, energy, and tone don't matter. It does matter, it is what that space truly needs.

Sometimes when I think about decolonization. When I think about it more broadly, I do not see it as just sharing our thoughts about it or reflecting on it. I see it as a form of being. Our presence, our voice, our dress, any part of it, our thoughts, origin, and background etc are all part of decolonization. It is being in that space and deconstructing the space through who you are.

So when you are in a panel that you feel you do not belong in. When you are in a space that you feel isn't yours. Stay with yourself and hold your own. You are not just the panelist or a speaker. You are the space. So own it.

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

One of my submission at the One Young World at the University of Bath forum was sharing an alternative to specialization which is plurality. Maybe the school could be a space to express ourselves.

Cc: @OneYoungWorld @oywbath

[African Youth SDGs Summit @youthsdgssummit]

𝑶𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒕!

Unlock Funding for the 6th African Youth SDGs Summit!
Special Webinar Series:
''Funding Your Journey to Global Policy Space''
📅May 6 2026
⏲️1:00 PM GMT
Secure your learning seat today via link below 👇

#SDGs #AYSDGs #AYSDGs2026 #Agenda2030

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

I could recall sometimes in 2017 and 2018, I was trying to share my thoughts but no one was listening. I am like why should they listen to me when I have not built anything tangible?

I also noticed my voice wasn't gaining the necessary traction as well and I said “I will definitely surely be heard” and today, I am delivering Keynote Speeches across continents and countries.

What a moment to be alive.

Time truly tells what endures.

If you are not gaining the traction you need, I hope this poem gives you solace too.

You will be heard

#poetry

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

@stanley_human That would be great Stanley

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

I touched down in Montreal, Canada, and at the Border Check, the officer asked, "What is the purpose of your trip?"

Hammed: I am giving a Keynote speech at McGill University.

Officer: Can I see your invitation letter

Hammed: Showed the invitation letter and the first line reads “Dear Immigration Officer,
I am writing to formally invite Mr. Hammed Kayode Alabi, an accomplished leader dedicated to improving youth employment outcomes and enhancing career development opportunities for youth in Africa, to participate as a Keynote Speaker at the McGill Africa Umoja Summit, scheduled to take place on May 1, 2026, at Centre….

Officer: Only reads the first line and said “Good luck sir”

It was one of the smoothest checks I have had including Ghana, and Spain. I had that pride in my face.

Still Day One!

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

@alabimubaraq31 My good senior🙏🏾🙏🏾

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

@alabimubaraq31 Yes I did. I went to LASMOCK

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

@AmbAgboola Thank you my good man

[MyPancreasribs @Confide47576680]

@iamkayfactor My people at Mastercard Foundation scholars program in McGill will be well fed by you sir.

Do have a wonderful time in Montreal.

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

@Montreal @MeetMontreal This is my second time in Montreal in about two years. Looking forward to seeing more of the city before I return home and the Museum of Fine Arts.

[Hammed Kayode Alabi @iamkayfactor]

@nhialgdeng My good man! Thank you brother. Looking forward to reconnecting with you at some point. I know the universe would make it happen.