Dayo Israel, the Youth Leader of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), recently
recounted how he chose to forgo an offer of admission
to Oxford University for further studies in order to pursue his role as the
APC’s Youth Leader.
Israel shared this revelation via a social media post on a
Friday. He detailed how he had successfully navigated a challenging three-stage
interview process, ultimately becoming the sole Nigerian to be admitted into
the program.
In his own words, “Last year, I was en route to Oxford
University for advanced studies when destiny steered me towards the position of
National Youth Leader. I had painstakingly completed a rigorous three-stage
interview process, and I was the lone Nigerian selected for the program. It was
an intensely competitive process, but I was chosen, all thanks to God.”
Israel’s decision to contest for the APC Youth Leader
position compelled him to forfeit his Oxford admission, and he found himself in
the dilemma of how to convey this news to the university. He even shared email
exchanges between himself and the university’s representative, revealing,
“They were eagerly awaiting my arrival, but I was in Abuja, actively
campaigning for the National Youth Leader role.” Ultimately, he deferred
his admission, and the rest, as they say, is history. These were some of the
sacrifices he made out of love for his country.
Looking ahead, the APC Youth Leader expressed his aspiration
to pursue the program at Oxford in the near future.
In 2022, at the age of 36, Israel assumed the role of APC
Youth Leader. He hails from Lagos State and secured this position through a
consensus arrangement in which four other contestants graciously stepped aside
to support him. He became the first National Youth Leader of the APC to hail
from the South West region.
Israel boasts a remarkable list of accomplishments, including
receiving the Mayor of London’s Young PEWA (Person Earnestly Working for
Africa) Award and participating in the White House President’s Forum for Young
African Leaders.
His educational background comprises an LLB in Law from the
London Metropolitan University and a Master of Arts in International Relations.
Additionally, he holds various diploma certificates from esteemed institutions
such as Harvard Business School Executive Education, Cambridge Judge Business
School, and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Passionate about youth development, Israel has been actively
involved in numerous initiatives aimed at empowering young people in Nigeria
and across Africa. He is also a member of the British Council Global
Changemakers Network and has participated in the US State Department
International Visitors Leadership Program.
