Wissen-Haus Youth Empowerment Foundation is a Nigerian non-profit organisation based in Ibadan, Oyo State, focused on bridging the skills gap among young people in Nigeria through career guidance, mentorship, and access to global opportunities. The foundation was established with a mission to equip Nigerian youth with practical knowledge and exposure needed for economic independence.[1]
1. Background
The foundation operates under the belief that many Nigerian youths lack access to structured career guidance and exposure to opportunities available to their global peers. Wissen-Haus was founded by Benz Olagbaye, who serves as its director, with the aim of addressing this gap through structured programmes, a digital learning platform, and community-based engagements. The organisation has reported reaching over 500 students across Ibadan.[2]
The name Wissen-Haus draws from the German word Wissen, meaning "knowledge", and Haus, meaning "house" — reflecting the organisation's vision of being a house of knowledge for Nigerian youth.
2. Programmes
2.1 Career Clarity Trade Fair
The Career Clarity Trade Fair is a flagship event designed for secondary school students across Nigeria. It brings together professionals from various industries to expose students to career options and pathways available after secondary education.[3]
2.2 Opportunity Blueprint
The Opportunity Blueprint is a podcast produced by the foundation. It provides guidance on scholarships, internships, grants, and other opportunities available to Nigerian youth locally and internationally.[4]
2.3 Impact Content
Impact Content is the foundation's social-impact storytelling initiative, documenting stories of youth transformation and community development to inspire broader engagement with its mission.[5]
2.4 Community Hub and Learning Library
The foundation operates an online Community Hub offering free courses, toolkits, and an Opportunity Hub that aggregates scholarships, jobs, and grants relevant to Nigerian youth. Members who complete courses are issued digital certificates.[6]
2.5 Career Assessment Tools
Wissen-Haus provides two self-assessment tools: the Career Pathways Assessment, which generates a personalised career roadmap, and the Career Assessment Accelerator, a ten-question quiz mapping users to one of twelve career profiles.[7]
3. Key Personnel
| Name | Role | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Benz Olagbaye | Founder & Executive Director | Leadership |
| Lanre | IT Operations Consultant | Volunteer |
| Gbemisola | Programme Manager | Volunteer |
| Damola | Business Operations Manager | Volunteer |
| Ope | Programme Co-ordinator | Volunteer |
| Zaki | Programme Co-ordinator | Volunteer |
Benz Olagbaye — Founded Wissen-Haus after identifying Nigeria's youth gap as an access problem rather than a talent deficit. Has personally mentored over 50 young people.
4. Policy Research
The foundation conducts and publishes policy research relevant to youth employment, skills development, and education in Nigeria, contributing to public discourse on human capital development.[8]
5. Volunteer & Partnership Initiatives
Wissen-Haus actively recruits volunteers to serve as mentors and engages institutional partners including schools, businesses, and civil society organisations. It accepts donations to support its free-to-access programmes.[9]
References
- Wissen-Haus Youth Empowerment Foundation
- Our Story – Wissen-Haus
- Career Clarity Trade Fair – Wissen-Haus
- Opportunity Blueprint – Wissen-Haus
- Impact Content – Wissen-Haus
- Community Hub – Wissen-Haus
- Career Pathways Assessment – Wissen-Haus
- Policy Research – Wissen-Haus
- Volunteer – Wissen-Haus