Nurturing Ambition: Tariladei Tonkiri's Inspiring Journey and the transformative role of YOMA
"Embrace curiosity": Tariladei Tonkiri from Nigeria shares a message of empowerment to young people
Meet Tariladei Tonkiri, an ambitious 27 year old from Nigeria, on a journey to expand her professional abilities and knowledge and a stellar example of the ambition and initiative of Africa’s youth.
Africa is the fastest growing continent in the world with a dynamic and vibrant youth population. Despite this, youth accounts for 60% of Africa’s unemployed population prompting youth across the continent to start on individual journeys to take charge of their own destinies.
Tariladei’s journey started in 2012, at 16, when she enrolled for a diploma in Desktop Publishing. However, her thirst for learning did not stop there; in 2021, she became a Google scholar as part of the Generation Google Scholarship Program for Women in Computer Science and then went even further. Driven by her commitment to further her opportunities, Tariladei continued her journey in 2022, when she worked as part of the Yoma team under the capacity of Project Manager Assistant. Inspired by Yoma’s vision, Tariladei then registered in Project Management and IT courses with Yoma, to validate her skills and professional credibility.
“Certified courses matter to me because they validate my expertise and enhance my professional credibility’, says Tariladei, speaking about her experience with Yoma.
Tariladei is just one of many young Africans being supported by digital platforms such as Yoma (Youth Agency Marketplace) that connects driven and talented youth to learning and earning opportunities. Co-developed by young Africans, Yoma offers young people a variety of free online opportunities to promote skills development, and community engagement, connecting young people, including the most marginalised, and giving them a way to showcase their talents.
“What motivates me to learn,” shares Tariladei, “is my desire for personal growth and the opportunity to expand my knowledge and abilities.”
The achievements of Tariladei in just one year of being a Yoma user are testament to what can be achieved by youth who are similarly motivated, under the right guidance and with the requisite skillset. Yoma has become a catalyst for change, providing a gateway for African youth to unlock new opportunities and prosper in their careers. Alongside the continued partnership with Generation Unlimited (GenU) and UNICEF, Yoma has been able to create an ecosystem of opportunities for African youth, giving many a chance to align their opportunities with their aspirations.
Yoma helps young people create a blockchain-based digital CV, and youth are awared through the Zlto, a digital token redeemable at over 3000 outlets. It is a digital ID for youth to collect credentials and create a digital record of the skills they have gained. Tariladei cites how her skilling journey with Yoma has helped open doors to better opportunities, unlocking both new skills and sparking curiosity within her. She believes that every young person on a similar journey should take with them this message: ‘Embrace curiosity, explore new skills, seize every opportunity’.
YOMA's influence extends beyond individual success stories, however. By empowering youth and enabling them to realize their potential, YOMA is fueling innovation and creating job opportunities. As young Africans gain the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in their areas of specialisation, they become agents of change, driving sustainable development.
Anupama Saikia, CMO of Generation Unlimited, says: “We need more such examples by the millions. Governments, Industry, and Youth need to come together for this to happen. We owe it to ourselves and to our youth.”
