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Our Story

A Dream Twenty Years in the Making

Founded by

Adebimpe Yemisi Obelawo

The journey from The Role Model Project to iwa, told by the person who started it.

Adebimpe, founder of iwa, smiling outdoors in a navy dress
Adebimpe · Founder of iwa

Chapter 1 of 3 · 2006 · The Spark

A Dream Twenty Years in the Making

How a young graduate's simple dream and a passion for helping children find direction began to take shape.

The journey didn't start with an app; it began in 2006. Having completed my NYSC in 2005, I was in the middle of a challenging job hunt when it struck me that I could channel my passion into something meaningful. Driven by the belief that children—especially those not born with a silver spoon—need more people to look up and strengthen their beliefs that their dreams are valid, I launched The Role Model Project (RMP) in Osogbo, Osun State. Long before social media made story-sharing common, I walked into banks and schools across Osun State, pitching an idea I passionately believed in. We began hosting impactful talks at schools like Fakunle Comprehensive and Ifeoluwa Grammar School, proving to young minds that their beginnings did not have to dictate their destinations.

The old-school archive

Have you watched an old-school video today?

A little rewind to where it all began — an original training video from Adebimpe’s Role Model Project days.

Our mini museum · Exhibit 01

The Role Model Project (RMP) charter

The Role Model Project©

RMP©

…Of course, I Can!

Our Mission

To become a major channel of positive influence to students in public schools all over the nation by using Role Modeling as a tool to empower children in public secondary schools and educationally underserved communities so that they can develop the knowledge, skills and character strengths that will help them become responsible and successful adults who can compete adequately and contribute positively in the larger society.

Our Vision

That the children of the Nigerian public secondary school system will develop an enthusiastic approach to education while acquiring the knowledge, skills and character strengths necessary to become responsible and successful adults who will themselves use their success stories to help successive generations chart a course that will eventually make Nigeria and indeed the world a better place.

Our Method
  • We Raise the Bar: We are not afraid to set high standards and encourage children to reach for and surpass them. We clearly define high expectations for academic performance and behaviour with easily measurable indices while providing support for individual student mentoring needs in conjunction with the school and the parents.
  • We teach Strength of Character: We believe that having the right principles helps children to set the right goals because success in life depends on more than academic learning.
  • We select Worthy Role Models: Our Role Models help bridge the gap between the academic knowledge and the realities of life through experience sharing. Older role models help to bridge the boundaries between the generations thus guaranteeing an effective societal succession plan.

© 2006 The Role Model Project (RMP) · All rights reserved · Adebimpe Yemisi Obelawo

From the archive: the mission, vision and method Adebimpe wrote for The Role Model Project (RMP) — where the idea behind iwa first began. The Role Model Project and RMP are the property of Adebimpe Yemisi Obelawo.