Dayo Israel (37 years, South West, Nigeria) is a pastor, youth development consultant and National Youth Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who wears the hat for a natural flair he has exhibited at a very early age.
His leadership stint started early that many debate that Israel validates the argument that “leaders are born before they are made.” Even though he only became a popular young progress during the heat and fight for who will more effectively connect to the Nigerian youth through the party’s platform, some of the bigwigs in South Western block stamped their feet behind Israel as the person most qualified to deliver on the party’s mandate.
Many would say the party must envisage the tough fight ahead to have elected a young person who can connect with youths at all levels and regions ahead of the 2023 elections. Israel truly had his teeth cut for him and dexterity which he deployed amidst enormous disaffection against the APC from youth influencers, celebrities and the likes in the build up to the elections must be credited to the party victory at various levels.
Dayo started at London Metropolitan University on the International Foundation Programme and continued onto the LLB and finally completed his MA International Relations in 2010. His past achievements and connections to various international organizations and charities meant that whilst studying at London Met he continued to grow and develop his impressive portfolio of achievements.
Alumnae of the Harvard Business School, Cambridge Judge Business School, the Executive Development Program of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the London Metropolitan University.
He was named one of the 100 Most Influential People of African Descent (under 40) as part of the 2017 celebration of the UN Decade for people of Africa Descent at the One UN Plaza in New York. Dayo is a member of the British Council Global Change Makers Network, Connecting Futures Program and Fellow of the US State Department International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) that has produced over 400 Heads of Government globally.
A Henley Business School Young Leader, Dayo has twice been recognized in 2016 and 2017 as one of 50 UK’s brightest young leaders. He was also recognized as one of the top 25 Promising Nigerian Youths under 35 To Serve Nigeria in 2016 and as one of Africa’s top 30 most inspirational young people of 2013.
Before his emergence as the party’s national youth leader, Israel served as a Executive Permanent Member of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board. (UBEC) and prior to that he had also served as Legislative Aide at the National Assembly.
His burning desire to influence and make significant impact inspired his early pursuit. From the age of nine, Dayo started the only child-led non-governmental organization (NGO) in Nigeria at the time – General Action Against the Violation of Human and Children’s Rights, an organization which spearheaded the campaign for the promotion of children’s rights in Nigeria. This laid the foundation for his early interaction with world leaders and policy makers.
As the leader of young progressives of APC Dayo commenced his tenure by first touring the 36 states and the FCT to engage with youth leaders at various levels to restore young people’s confidence in the ruling party. In the bid to ensure the party is more youth friendly and persuasive he brought on board young professionals and innovators to rebrand the youth arm of the party and create wider platforms for engagement within the party.
Israel championed the age limit for specific party positions solely for youths as a way of ensuring greater inclusion of young people at the party leadership structure. This resulted in the election of youngest state party chairman in Benue State.
Faced with heightened aggression from opposition parties and restive youths who were bent on discrediting and undermining the ruling in 2023 general elections, he created the first political party volunteer Corp “The Jagaban Army,” responsible for door to door campaign for the party in the 2023 general elections.
His support for Bola Ahmed Tinubu prior to the party’s national primaries was also undeniable thereby rejuvenating his unfettered all out campaign when Tinubu emerged the party’s flag bearer. He has demonstrated uncommon ability to serve in diverse spectrum of government based on his extensive experience internationally. He was specially invited by Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to a private reception at Buckingham palace as a result of his contribution to Africa Diaspora Development, and remains the only ever recipient of the Young PEWA (Person Earnestly Working for Africa) Award at the office of the Mayor of London. He was also invited by the Obama Administration to the White House President’s Forum for Young African Leaders in Washington DC and other reputed international forums.