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The Story Behind FAME

Start by doing what Is necessary, then do what’s possible, and then suddenly you Are doing the impossible.

Born in Ibadan Nigeria, Raphael Stephen heard stories of faraway places and dreamed about leaving Ibadan after his BSC in Political Science in December 2015. But little did he know God had other plans for him, in April 2016.

He said, “I can still remember vividly, my first Civic Education Class. With the SS1 – SS3 students at my place of primary assignment, Model College Kano State, Nigeria. My becoming more concerned with fulfillment and purpose than earning a fat paycheck after my service year began with a question I asked my students “Who is a leader?” “It was quite saddening seeing them reply calling the names of the Teachers at the school, the Principal, and no single student in the class mentioning their own names. Cause none of them saw themselves as leaders.
Raphael Stephen Serving at Kano State Nigeria in 2016

Immediately, Raphael Stephen recognized an identity crisis and he took it upon himself to educate and equip his students with leadership values and skills.

He helped them aspire to not just finish Secondary school and get married. Which is the norm in the northern part of Nigeria. He created a personal development plan for each of his students for the whole school year. He dared them to aspire to become more after graduation. Today, whenever he receives thank you messages from students like Kabir. Who was totally clueless about what was next for him when he first met him. Kabir went ahead to further his education in Egypt. Aisha was quite scared she will be forced into marriage immediately after Secondary School. She went ahead to study Medicine at one of the Universities in Kano State Nigeria. Mr. Raphael Stephen said “I felt quite fulfilled and glad I was able to look beyond my depression over my posting to a place I never wanted to be in, in the first place. I was able to recognize my purpose for being posted to serve at that particular school. Which now altered the trajectory of my life positively forever and helped me discover my life assignment.” Stories of many other students like Kabir and Aisha. Those who kept sharing their testimonies and feedback with him inspired the next phase of his FAME journey.
Corper Raphael Stephen Standing in front of his school of assignment in 2017

Motivated by the transformation he saw in the lives of his students, and the sadness he felt over the leadership and identity crisis problem. Which he came to realize was not only present in the school he was posted to. But also in the Secondary education system.

He rallied about 10 of his friends and started this initiative which the whole of society is grateful for today. With his savings of about $55 dollars, after the completion of his service year. Which is a volunteer-driven intervention. That has educated and equipped over 25,000 leaders across 160 schools in Oyo, Osun, and Jigawa State, Nigeria. In just over five years of operation. With leadership values and skills via our programs. With the help of the team and our supporters. This initiative has transitioned into a registered incorporated organization. That keeps bringing more transformation to more students and underserved communities.
Pioneer Fame Members at the inaugural meeting in 2017
Mr Raphael Stephen speaking at the first Fame program in 2017

We have seen the smiles that have erupted from our beneficiaries as we daily turn everyday students into growing leaders who will transform society.

From years of listening to the words of our beneficiaries and key stakeholders. It has become more clear that there is a desperate need for not just good but great leadership in Africa. And if we don’t act now when will we? In the process, we have learned a lot. We’ve learned that values and skills are missing, which has greatly affected our productivity as a people. We must multiply quality leaders and not just followers. We’ve learned that there are so many people like us out there. Who share this same burden to help young people discover their true identity and purpose. Raise their aspirations and equip them for success. Show them how to use their gifts to serve the world around them. And that every time invested, every donation given, and every supporter is essential.
Humans of Fame at our first year anniversary in 2018

FAME is now a movement of thousands of passionate and active individuals, many of which are the most driven and impactful young leaders we have ever seen.

We are committed to supporting a world with well-developed leaders, and greater access to education and skills that would enable us to lead our world into a better future. Generous people like you have supported us, making contributions through acts both large and small. We are quite optimistic that a day will come in our lifetime when every student in a secondary school in Africa will have access to quality leadership education, equipped with skills of the future, and we will continue to work tirelessly in using the little, we have today to enable the possibilities of tomorrow. It is obvious that no individual or organization can solve societal problems alone; therefore, we continuously count on your support as we collectively march toward developing the leaders we wish we had in Nigeria and Africa together.

Thank you for believing in the vision and joining us on this journey.

RAPHAEL STEPHEN
Humans of Fame 2022

Help more students from low-income families get quality education

Thousands of students have been completely transformed, but millions more are still waiting for their chance to access skills-based education.