Recently, at the University of East Anglia, Hammed Kayode Alabi spoke about the importance of storytelling in innovation and sustainable development. What caught our eye was his succinct capture:
Every great innovation comes with a story and the reason why people would say yes to you and your product is because they feel connected to it – and that is the power of storytelling. People will not buy what you do or how you do it. They are sold by the why.
Read his thoughts, below, in detail…
“It is a full-circle moment. Have had many of those recently. In 2020, during COVID-19, I launched the Teachers-in-Training Bootcamp for final-year students studying education at any Nigerian higher education institution, to build their capacity to respond to the educational crises.
Success Yole Areeveso was one of the 20 selected and she came second in our pitch competition and watched her grow all over the years. She is currently studying MA in Education and Development at the University of East Anglia (UEA) through the Allan and Nesta Ferguson Scholarship.
Some weeks ago, she reached out about hosting a “DevInnovation Summit” at her University “UEA” and she would love me to be one of the keynote speakers.
It was a proud moment for me – and to be able to watch her do amazing things reinforces my idea of being a small piece in the life of others, and as we complete the piece of others, we complete ours as well.
“In my talk, I spoke about the importance of storytelling in innovation and sustainable development. Every great innovation comes with a story and the reason why people would say yes to you and your product is because they feel connected to it and that is the power of storytelling. People will not buy what you do or how you do it. They are sold by the why. By the reasons and that is why storytelling should be at the centre of our work as innovators, development practitioners, and changemakers”.
” […] there was no way I wouldn’t have included my friend Tunde Onakoya‘s recent milestones in my talk.
When I put on the slides of him winning the Guinness World Record and how he shares his stories, I saw the light in the faces of Nigerians and Africans in the room, and it brought me so much joy.
“It shows that the effort of one can transcend to others and when one of us try to be bold and chart the uncharted path, it affects each and everyone of us. Tunde’s move and work represent the intersection between talent, storytelling, and innovation. Using chess as an entry point to drive educational change and revolution, and telling the stories in a way that dignifies and magnifies is what should be taught. So for me, it was a privilege to spotlight that work.
“Thank you [Tunde Onakoya] for leading and showing what organic movement should be or look like and what it means to do great things from the smallest of all places.
“For those who are yet to know about you, I will be telling and sharing that story. The story of courage, being, and becoming”.