Bukola Aladesulu: The Dreamers’ Leader Helping African Youth Turn Potential Into Purpose

Before the titles, the awards, and the global stages, Bukola Aladesulu describes herself in simpler terms: someone who believes people deserve a fair chance to become who they are capable of becoming. That conviction has quietly grown into a movement.

Known as The Dreamers’ Leader, a name her community gave her organically, Bukola serves as Executive Director of Upthrive, a youth development hub that has impacted over 2,000 young people across 11 countries since 2023 through learning opportunities, mentorship, funding, and resources.

Her credentials include serving as a TheirWorld Global Youth Ambassador, a Global Ambassador for Peace at the International Forum for Peace and Diplomacy, a 2026 JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons in Nigeria honouree, and a 3x TEDx recognised speaker. She is also one of the first and youngest recipients of the Most Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Medical Sciences, and she completed a Mini MBA at Queen’s University in Canada, graduating as the second best fellow.

Yet what makes her story compelling is not the list of achievements. It is the reason behind them. She has watched too many brilliant young Africans sit on talent they do not know how to translate into opportunity. Through Upthrive, she is closing that gap, building the skills, networks, and pathways that turn potential into purpose, one young person at a time.

Who Is Bukola Aladesulu Beyond the Titles?

Asked who she really is, Bukola returns to that core belief. “I think before every title, I’m simply someone who believes people deserve a fair chance to become who they’re capable of becoming,” she says. “That’s really what has driven everything I’ve done.”

She describes herself as curious, a lover of learning, and someone who constantly asks how opportunities can be made more accessible, whether through education, mentorship, career development, or helping young people discover possibilities they did not know existed.

“I don’t see myself as someone who has all the answers,” she adds. “I’m still learning, still growing, and still dreaming. But if there’s one thing I hope people remember about me, it’s that I genuinely care about helping others move from potential to purpose.”

The Origin of "The Dreamers' Leader"

The name came from her community rather than from any deliberate branding. Over time, Bukola noticed that many of her conversations with young people began with a dream they had but did not know how to pursue. Her work naturally became about helping them believe those dreams were possible and, more importantly, showing them practical steps to get there.

One day an old friend started calling her The Dreamers’ Leader, and it stuck. “And yes, it still makes me smile,” she says. “But more than the name itself, it’s the responsibility that comes with it.”

Why Upthrive Is the Work That Excites Her Most

Among Teenovation, Upthrive Hub, two books, and a TEDx talk, Bukola says Upthrive is the project she is most excited to discuss right now. It addresses something she cares deeply about: helping young Africans bridge the gap between talent and opportunity.

“We meet brilliant young people every day who have the passion and ability to succeed but simply don’t know where to start or how to access the opportunities available to them,” she explains. Through Upthrive, the team helps them build skills and access scholarships, fellowships, jobs, grants, and communities that can change the trajectory of their lives.

Watching someone move from “I don’t know what’s next for me” to landing an opportunity they never imagined is, in her words, incredibly fulfilling.

Advice for a Young Nigerian Who Feels Stuck

If given two minutes with a young Nigerian who feels stuck and unsure of their path, Bukola would first say that it is okay not to have everything figured out. Social media, she notes, has made it seem like everyone has a perfect life and a perfect plan, but that is rarely the reality.

Her second message is direct: “The clarity you’re looking for is in the work you’re neglecting.” Many people spend so much time overthinking their next move that they never actually make one.

Her advice is to start with what you have, do the things you can do right now, keep showing up, keep learning, and keep building. “Clarity doesn’t come before action; it comes because of action,” she says.

She also encourages young people to be students of life: volunteer if necessary, attend events, have conversations, reach out to people, and try things that stretch them. Do not isolate yourself while waiting for life to happen.

Finally, when you see someone else winning, she says, do not see it as proof that you are behind. See it as evidence of what is possible. “Their success isn’t a reminder of your limitations; it’s a reminder that opportunities exist, and with consistency, you can create your own story too.”

How Bukola Spends a Free Afternoon

When she finally has a free afternoon, Bukola enjoys simple things. She loves reading, watching movies, and spending time by herself. She is also artistic and occasionally paints or creates something. She enjoys writing too, not necessarily for work, but to process her thoughts or capture ideas.

Sometimes her ideal afternoon is just doing absolutely nothing: sleeping, resting, or enjoying the quiet. “I think people assume I’m always working, and to be fair, I genuinely enjoy my work, but I’ve learned that slowing down is important too,” she says. “So yes, my idea of fun is probably much simpler than people expect, and I’m perfectly okay with that.”

This or That With Bukola

• TEDx stage or quiet afternoon at home? Quiet afternoon at home
• Writing a book or giving a speech? Writing a book
• Jollof or fried rice? Both, because they have different seasons
• Morning person or night owl? Night owl
• Music or podcasts? Podcasts, though she loves music too