Toyosi Akerele to Represent Nigeria in a United States Government Programme

RISE , Nigeria's leading Youth development organization, has recorded another achievement and honour as her Executive Director; Toyosi Akerele, prepares to join other eminent and distinguished contemporaries to attend the International Visitor Leadership Programme with the sponsorship of the United States Government.

The programme is scheduled to last for three weeks; from 22nd April-14th May 2011. It is interesting to note that Toyosi was the ONLY Nigerian being selected this year; this came as a recognition of the RISE team’s hardwork and resilience towards ensuring that the voices of young people are heard and that there is visible transformational change in Nigeria.

The International Visitor Leadership programme is an initiative of the U.S Embassies around the world. Launched in 1940, the IVLP is a professional exchange program that seeks to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through carefully designed short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders. These visits reflect the International Visitors’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States.

Toyosi will be attending one of world's most prestigious gatherings where people from different races and countries who have distinguished themselves in media, politics and governance are selected to represent their country and in the process, create a friendly association with the culture and social life of the American people.

Full of gratitude, Toyosi disclosed that she returns all the glory to God and also deeply appreciates the consistency and sacrifices of the formidable RISE Team not also forgetting the Partners and the advisory board of RISE for their support and confidence in the vision and objectives of RISE.