Two young innovators, Fawole Folajimi and Oluwadare Precious, have won business grant of N500,000 each at the 2025 edition of EMERGE, a yearly career and enterprise growth summit for young Africans by The Peak Performer (TPP) Africa.

The duo, selected from a pool of over 2,000 competitors at the summit, simultaneously held in Lagos and Abuja, impressed judges with their innovative solutions during the business pitch competition.

Participants from Nasarawa, Kogi, Borno, Kano, Plateau and other northern states were present at the Abuja location while those from Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Delta, Edo, Akwa Ibom, and Ondo were in the Lagos centre.

While Folajimi is a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving in Lagos, Oluwadare is a fashionpreneur based in Akure, Ondo State. Most participants were corps members, reflecting the summit’s focus on youth empowerment and sustainable entrepreneurship.

Speaking at the summit, themed, ‘21st Century Intelligence: Artificial or Emotional’, the Founder of TPP Africa and Convener of EMERGE, Dr. Abiola Salami, said the initiative was designed to foster an inclusive culture of performance across Africa.

Salami, who spoke on the topic, ‘The Future Has Feelings: Why Artificial Intelligence (AI) Without Emotional Intelligence (EI) Isn’t Smart Enough,’ emphasised the integration of technical expertise with emotional intelligence and human connection.

According to him, EMERGE bridges the gap between machine intelligence and human insight, aligning it with the theme of this year’s International Youth Day.

He also said that while AI is transforming industries, it can never fully replace human intelligence, stressing the critical role of EI in guiding the future.

“Technology generally can help you with precision; you can use it to reduce your turnaround time, but EI will help you to know how to persuade people. Technology can make you efficient, but EI will make you effective. So, it is not one or the other; it’s both of them at the same time. You can get employed because you have a certification but what will help you to stay on that job is EI. Your product knowledge can help you to acquire a customer, but what will retain the customer is EI. So, it is critical that we understand both sides,” he said.

In his speech, the U.S. Consul General in Lagos, Rick Swart, commended Salami for his work in youth development and leadership, noting his role as an alumnus of the U.S. government’s International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP).

Swart, represented by the Consulate’s Acting Public Affairs Officer, Raisa Dukas, described EMERGE as a transformational programme focused on equipping Nigerian youths with emotional intelligence, career mastery, entrepreneurial mindset, and personal growth.

She further applauded Salami’s dedication to empowering the next generation, saying: “It is an honour to speak at this conference where the brightest minds of tomorrow are addressing one of the most defining questions of our time — ‘21st Century Intelligence: Artificial Or Emotional.”

She, however, reaffirmed the U.S. Consulate’s commitment to youth empowerment, stressing the importance of initiatives that encourage young people to think critically, act globally, and lead holistically.

She noted that “conferences like these are vital platforms for exchanging ideas, building networks, and inspiring action,” encouraging participants to fully embrace the complexity of the theme of the summit.

She added: “The real question isn’t whether AI is more important. It’s how we integrate both to create a better future. You have the ability to ask the hard questions. How can we ensure AI is ethical? How can we use technology to bridge the divides rather than deepen them? How can we lead with both intelligence and compassion? I commend the organisers for their vision and dedication in bringing this event to life. To the participants, I applaud your commitment to shaping a better future.”

Emerge 2025 also featured masterclasses, career clinics, daring panel sessions, and breakout workshops aimed at equipping the youth with both human and digital skills.

One of the participants, Obinna Odikaesieme, a corps member, described the summit as highly beneficial and enriching.