On June 12, 2025, over 1,000 attendees gathered for the second edition of the Festival of Change (FOC), a space where education, technology, and purpose converged. As a Data and Insights Writer at Kryvent Africa, I had the privilege of experiencing this impact-driven event up close.

This year’s theme, “Connecting Education at All Levels,” sparked vital conversations about building inclusive technology and making education truly accessible. One of the panelists, Dr. Oluwakemi Olurinola, captured the paradox of our time when she said, “We’re more connected than ever, yet more disconnected from purpose.”

FOC 2025 was a call to bridge that gap not just through dialogue, but through the quiet, determined actions of the volunteers behind the scenes.

In line with Kryvent Africa’s June focus on volunteering, we spoke to the incredible people who made FOC possible. Their whys. Their laughs. Their tears. Their wins.

Can I have your name and your role at FOC?
My name is John Adeyinka, my role is houseboy. Actually, Technical Personnel and Support with Tech Details.

Why did you say yes to volunteering for this event or project?
This is not the first version of Festival of Change. We had one last year, I wasn’t completely involved until the last stage. And it was a refreshing experience to see people from different career paths speak on the collective challenges we face and proffer solutions. A lot of great things came out of last year. Someone got a scholarship to study at the University. There was an important documentary on education. Some people got job opportunities. I even heard some people got married. FOC is not an event of just showing, or show up in your best outfits. I have seen it drive results, especially post event. The main event is after the event. It’s the result for me.

When I heard the theme of this year as well “Connect,” and the vision for it months before the event, it piqued my interest. There are great minds and organisations here today. People are being offered jobs, there’s virtual reality here. This doesn’t happen at every event.

Describe your emotions now with a song, and at the end of the day?
Agolo by Angelique Kidjo right now. Now that the day is over, somebody play me 10 Kilo by Davido.

What has been the most testing and the most hilarious moment while working on this event?
 The most testing moment for me as a person was coming here and seeing the crowd. We planned for 1,500 people. But 1,500 is good on paper, it’s a lot to deal with in person. The skyrocket in the numbers as well. In a few hours, registration numbers suddenly went up. And how the attendees are our responsibility.

Funny? I’ll say the interaction we had with the non-administrative staff of this facility we’re using today. Initially, they seemed less welcoming. It was like you people just do your thing and go. Now, some of them have walked up to us asking if we need anything and offering to help with extra fans etc. Interestingly, we’re touching on the conduciveness of classrooms as part of our conversation on education. They’re contributing to the conduciveness of this event.

Pick one — Founder or Volunteer?
Both.

Depending on your choice, leave a short message.
Dear Founder, sometimes it gets overwhelming. Actually, all the time it does get overwhelming. Your vision and mission is what is going to push things and the vision of everyone. It’s great to always look at how many people have turned up in alliance with your goal. We’re all proud of you. Keep going.

Now that the event is over, what are you most proud of?
Not yelling at anyone. I lost my shit today and I was chasing it on the floor, it was rolling away.

Can I have your name and your role at FOC?
Hi, my name is Ude Ugo. And I’m the Art Director of Festival of Change 2025. Last year, I was also Art Director. I oversaw the film/documentary we produced for the festival, and the live painting session. This year, we had an Art Competition and an ongoing Art exhibition.

Why did you say yes to volunteering for this event or project?
Candid reason, I said yes because I was here last year. And I think there’s a lesson there about the longevity of causes. Maybe if you asked me why I said yes last year, I would say it aligned with my vision. I love to think of how Art can be used as a medium to teach things in education. And how Art is an educational expression itself. This year, I am here because I did it last year. And there’s a bond with the team, the people, the cause. Sometimes, you stick with things because you know how important they are and how worth it it is to make sure it continues

Describe your emotions now with a song, and at the end of the day?
Tbh you don’t want to ask me that question. I’m not having such a bright day. It has been really stressful. Maybe an original like “I need to eat, eat×2. I need to rest my feet and close my eyes.” My song at the end is “I want to eat, to eat, Apples and banana.” I think it’s from a nursery school rhyme.

What has been the most testing and the most hilarious moment while working on this event? 
The most testing would be we opened the call for art submissions and we didn’t get a lot of submissions until the last day. And you know when you’re the one submitting, you like last minute. But when you’re the one judging/screening, it is not funny. Because how do we go through all of these? We had to move the deadline.

Another testing thing was I planned to wear something lovely for the finale, but my tailor ghosted me. She disappeared today, didn’t take my calls, and her place wasn’t open.

Pick one — Founder or Volunteer?
Volunteer.

Depending on your choice, leave a short message.
Dear volunteer, enjoy the moment and the opportunities to serve in smaller places. Because sometimes the places we aspire to seem great but they come with a lot of work. Volunteering builds your character and skills. The skills that would help you do the big things you want to do.

Now that the event is over, what are you most proud of?
I’m most grateful for friends and community. The judges who attended the art competition helped me work through the process and it just made the entire day amazing.

Can I have your name and your role at FOC?
My name is Kassim Olaoluwafemi, I’m the graphics designer for TeaccH (the organizer of Festival of Change).

Why did you say yes to volunteering for this event or project?
I am thrilled to be part of the team at TeaccH and by extension designing for FOC. You can tell that when you look at the designs and backdrops of the event. I was also motivated because I have learnt a lot from working at TeaccH, and I know I would do so working on this project.

Describe your emotions now with a song, and at the end of the day?
Now, see how far you’ve brought us (Gratitude – Victoria Orenze). At the end, It is well with my soul. Just kidding. Judah by Dunsin Oyekan.

What has been the most testing and the most hilarious moment while working on this event?
The tasks were overwhelming at first. But with the help of my teammates and small delegation here and there, things were better. It was nice working with the team.

The most hilarious moment was a mistake on a flyer where a speaker’s name was interchanged with another’s picture. It is hilarious now, not then. We had posted it and had to take it down. When it was time to find out who was at fault? Everyone kept quiet. We couldn’t figure out where.

Pick one — Founder or Volunteer?
Volunteer.

Depending on your choice, leave a short message.
First, I would like to appreciate the volunteers who made FOC 25 a success. Dear Volunteer, don’t just embrace change, be a changemaker. Don’t accept things like that, switch things up for good.

Now that the event is over, what are you most proud of?
I am proud of everything! We planned this whole thing. And seeing the people that came, the amazing volunteers. Also the amount of knowledge that speakers and panelists shared regarding change and education. I’m also proud of myself because I spoke on the Gen Z panel, I got to talk about my experience, my career, my 2 cents basically.

Can I have your name and your role at FOC?
My name is Glory Ihinose and I’m the Content writers team lead.

Why did you say yes to volunteering for this event or project?
Well, I was the red carpet host for last year’s Festival of Change and this year I was given the opportunity to work with the core team and for me it was something I had to just jump on. I wanted to stretch myself.

Describe your emotions now with a song, and at the end of the day?
My song now is It is well with my soul. At the end of the day, my song is Iyanu by IbkSings.

What has been the most testing and the most hilarious moment while working on this event?
Most testing is having to have meetings and there are only 2 to 3 people online, then not having enough team members at first was a testing moment as I thought I’d have to overload the few people but at some point more people joined.

Also I was sending mails which was hilarious because I had to think a lot to fit the Gen Z vibe, think of something that’ll make people read their mail, then I managed the community of volunteers, had to bring my quirkiness and it was exciting having to answer questions on a daily and not shouting or losing my cool.

Pick one — Founder or Volunteer?
If I had to choose… Volunteers.

Depending on your choice, leave a short message.
Dear volunteers, what you think that you cannot do, try it out. I know it will stretch you but try it out. Don’t always look at what you’ll get, look at the value you can give and thus building up vital skills.

Now that the event is over, what are you most proud of?
I mobilized students from LASU and OAU to attend, and they did!

Can I have your name and your role at FOC?
My name is Aisha Ogundipe, I’m a member of TeaccH, a content creation team volunteer.

Why did you say yes to volunteering for this event or project?
I’m happy to volunteer usually as it gets work done and makes work easier for the organisers and team leads.

Describe your emotions now with a song, and at the end of the day?
I don’t have a song right now. My song at the end is Happy by Pharrell Williams.

What has been the most testing and the most hilarious moment while working on this event?
Since the planning of Festival of Change, I’ve not fully been on ground but today I had to take some excuses from my other engagements to be here, had to join the content creation team and it’s been tasking doing our roles like getting some attendees to be interviewed in our video and so on.
It was fun and hilarious seeing some of the team members I hadn’t seen in a while.

Pick one — Founder or Volunteer?
I cannot say.

Depending on your choice, leave a short message.
As a founder, one has to prepare their mind for a lot of challenges. You’re going to hit many roadblocks but no matter what, you find yourself and don’t let it keep you down, you keep on growing and trying again.

Then for volunteering, not everyone can do it. Some people have issues with being led and it doesn’t work like that.

Now that the event is over, what are you most proud of?
I’m proud of the large crowd that was pulled today, it shows a lot of people are interested in the development of education in Nigeria.

Can I have your name and your role at FOC?
My name is Akinkunmi Alonge and my role at FOC is Desk Registration.

Why did you say yes to volunteering for this event or project?
I said yes because I felt like doing something. Seeing my friends volunteer for things so I thought okay let me try and see how it is.

Describe your emotions now with a song, and at the end of the day?
For now my song is No stress by wizkid. My song at the end is “I don tire no be small, upon say I get sense.”

What has been the most testing and the most hilarious moment while working on this event?
Well, spelling of people’s names is quite difficult. People speed talk and it’s both hilarious and challenging.

Pick one — Founder or Volunteer?
I can’t say which to choose.

Depending on your choice, leave a short message.
A founder has an edge, a lot of experience is needed, and there’s a network of people and then volunteering is quite similar too.

Now that the event is over, what are you most proud of?
What I’m most proud of is that I managed the stress of interacting with many people at once, learned to communicate effectively with different individuals, and successfully coordinated and registered everyone who arrived in a large group.

Can I have your name and your role at FOC?
My name is Phebean Adebambi. I’m a volunteer for ushering and protocols.

Why did you say yes to volunteering for this event or project?
Because it’s something I’ve always loved doing even while I was an undergraduate. I love to try things out.

Describe your emotions now with a song, and at the end of the day?
Currently I’ll say Pray for me by Darey Art Alade. At the end, well, Evidence full everywhere, testimony… I feel very very happy.

What has been the most testing and the most hilarious moment while working on this event?
Having to move around and communicate with so many people. Personally, I don’t like going out of my circle but as a volunteer I have to.

No funny moments.

Pick one — Founder or Volunteer?
The two, both of them.

Depending on your choice, leave a short message.
Dear founder, you’re doing well. It’s not easy to reach out to so many people, these are high people.

Then volunteer, as a volunteer you have access to some things that others do not. You get to meet new people and it will help you build your career and CV.

Now that the event is over, what are you most proud of?
Most proud of… Ahh, I won a bottle courtesy of MTN. I’ve never won anything maybe except a chair when I was much younger because when I’m at a party or something I’m the type to keep to myself but today the bottle came to me and now I have something to show I went for FOC. It’s also a very fine bottle (giggles).

Final reflections

From art competitions to virtual reality demos, FOC 2025 wasn’t just another event, it was a meeting point of purpose, passion, and people power. As volunteers juggled tasks, learned new skills, and built connections, they reminded us that change doesn’t happen in isolation; it takes a village.

And in the words of one proud volunteer: “Evidence full everywhere, testimony.”