BACKGROUND:
Nigeria is a country with great business and investment potentials, much of which lies in the abundant of human and natural resources. Tapping these resources requires organized efforts that can facilitate useful and economically viable entrepreneurial endeavors and business ventures. These efforts should target primarily the country’s most viable population, the youth. It is on this platform that Life-Skills Initiative for Youth empowerment and Development (LIFYEAD), designed a programme to help the youths, especially those that are educationally and economically disadvantaged to acquire knowledge and skills relevant to their success in life.
BRIEF HISTORY:
Life-Skills Initiative for Youth Empowerment and Development (LIFYEAD) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) introduced in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka on July, 2008 by Nweke Prince O. Hails from Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State (South-East), Nigeria. However, the operation did not start immediately until July, 2009. The headquarter is located in Abia State while the branch operation is in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State. Its membership is drawn from all the Six Geo- political zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria headed by Regional Coordinator. LIFYEAD believed in Human Rights irrespective of ethic, Origin, birth, state, color, sex, language, beliefs and any form of discrimination is against our dignity and integrity.
ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE:
Our organization structure is made of the Board of Trustees, National Coordinator, Deputy National coordinator, National Secretary, Team Leader, Deputy Team Leader, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Office Assistance, Account Auditor, Financial Officer, Treasurer, Project Coordinator, Programme Coordinator, Regional Coordinators, Resource Persons/Facilitators, Publicity Secretary, Special Advisors, Members and volunteers.
OUR VISION:
The initiative is poised to provide life-skills training experiences to youths of all categories so that they can acquire relevant knowledge and skills necessary for self development, productivity, creativity and dependency.
OUR MISSION:
To make the young generation competent in all spheres of human endeavours in order to be able to compete favourably with others in this rapidly changing society.
MEMBERSHIP:
Membership is free to all who are committed to achieving the vision and the objectives of the initiative inline with the MDGs
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
• To raise the awareness of youth to self-employment as a career option.
• To promote good governance and human rights (through reinforcing citizenship rights, improving prisoners conditions and promoting the resolution of conflict through peace)
• To inculcate in the youth ability to think about or plan the future with great imagination and innovation creativity.
• To Promote peace and security
• To empower young entrepreneurs with business related skills.
• To develop the appropriate support systems, which can facilitate the exchange of ideas and knowledge?
• To promote healthcares and treatment (HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing)
• To establish mechanisms capable of encouraging innovation and creativity.
• To reduce the rate of unemployment, poverty, crime, hunger etc. among the youth.
• To teach the youth essential practical life skills that is required for productive living (Vocational Production), like: simple cakes, creative arts, hair salon, barbing salon, welding, painting and decoration, bricklaying, carpentering, ability to operate computer and other local production for household (cosmetics productions) such like: local pomade, custard powder, yogurt, soya-beans, soya-milk, kitchen soap, shoe-polish, ice-cream, Detergent, and many other related skills like: ICT and Decorations
OUR ACTIVITIES:
 Leadership Skills
 Advocacy
 Youths Empowerment
 HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing
 Advanced Skill Acquisition
 ICT Awareness Sensitization
 Career Counseling
 Community Development Issues and Studies
 Poverty Reduction
 Eradication for Drug Abuses and Usage
 Decorations (Interior and Exterior)
 Gender Issues
 Health Cares Treatment: Diabetic/Hypertension Testing and Counseling 
 Business Management
 Financial Management 
OUR SPONSORS:
• Prince Computer Schools Ltd
• Confidence Computer Institute
• Richmond Open University
• Institute of African Studies
• Creativity Mobilization Movement
• Tomorrow Leaders Forum
• AfriHUB Nigeria Limited
• Youth Friendly Centre
• Nsukka Local Government Area
• Royal Crown Academy
• Pastor Helen Chika Henry
• Hon. Onyeke Chineme
• Alamo Ministries
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS:
•Access to our ICT training on advance programs.
•Free participation to local, regional, National and International Conferences, Workshops, Seminars, talk-shows etc
•Access to job opportunities with our employment agencies.
•Links to Networking, Coalitions, Donors and Agencies for Project Funding in your locality
•Recommendations to International NGOS base on the applicant’s Curriculum Vitae.
•Free access to real Job Opportunities within and outside the country especially with the following organizations: WHO, UNDP, USAID, UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, United Nations etc
•Free Access to information’s on any up-coming Local, Regional, National, International Conferences and •Workshops on Health, HIV/AIDS, Education/Scholarship, Community Development and Climate Change
•Free constant training on Advocacy, Good Governance, Proposal Writing, Financial Management, Entrepreneurship, Career Counseling, Report Writing, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Response to Proposal, Human Rights, Climate Change, Environmental Sanitation, HIV/AIDS Awareness, Counseling and Testing
•Ability to acquire our training skills and others packages.
•Free access to health care training and experience
OUR ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR
 Training of Prisoners in Nsukka metropolis Through Skill Acquisition
 Training of Undergraduate Students for 2-Day ICT Sensitization in Partnership with AfriHub Nigeria Limited
 Training of Secondary Schools Students with Skill Acquisition to becomes self-reliant, developed, creative and productive at Hill-view Unique Secondary Schools Nsukka
 Training of Post Primary schools on ICT awareness especially during the long vacations in partnership with Prince Computer School Limited
 Training of students in movie acting, auditions, dancing and singing in partnership with Young Stars Institute
 Free Distribution of materials to the physically challenging ones within and outside the University community. Promoting and the first to marked International Youth Day (IYD) in Nsukka Metropolis which was made of different cooperate bodies, local and national organizations, CSO, Militaries and Paramilitaries bodies etc
 Been among the short-listed 50 NGOs in South East Geopolitical Zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the European Union INSIDE to partake on their Capacity Building Workshop Project which lasted for two weeks on the eradication for poverty, good governance, peace and security, respond to proposal writing, financial management, monitoring and evaluation and management issues.
 Flagging up our banner to fight against child labor, human trafficking, prostitution, poverty, and hunger in the society
 Free Magazine distribution on simple guide to skill acquisition and procedures.
 Donation of footballs to the best secondary schools (Anglican Grammar School, St. Theresa’s College and Royal Crown Academy) in NNPC/Shell sports Competition ably presented by Maj. Gen. Chris Sunday Eze (Deputy Chairman, Nsukka National Assembly)
 Hosting Annual Conference/Seminar for the Physically Challenging ones, Youths, and Inter-Secondary Schools which title: “Business, Skills and Education Transformation: A Challenge to Nigerian Development for the 21st Centaury, under the Distinguished chairmanship of Her Excellency, Mrs. Clara Chime, First Lady, Enugu State ably represented by the Commissioner for Gender, Enugu State.
 Hosting 5-days workshop on youth empowerment through Information Communication and Technology towards nation building capacity and Structural Adjustment Program to First year students in the University of Nigeria Nsukka
 Training of Students on Homemade Production such as Detergent, Shoe Polish, Odor control and Yogurt
 Publication of Articles, magazine with the press within and outside the state of operation.
 Award of Honors to Lovers of Youth Empowerment Programs and Development in Nigeria by LIFYEAD ably presented by His Royal Highness Igwe Dr. Patrick Okoro
 Training of young youths on leadership skills in partnership with Tomorrow Leaders Forum, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
 Free HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing in partnership with University Nigeria Nsukka Medical Service
 Training on Cosmetics and Vocational Productions to Young Girls and Women’s in Rural Areas.
 Eradication for Drug Abuses and Usage in Nsukka Metropolis and Schools.
LIFYEAD BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND DIRECTORY
1)Prof. P. N. C. Ngwu      -      Patron - Department of Adult Education, University of Nigeria  
2)Prof. E. J. Otaburuagu    -    Staff Adviser/Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Nig.
3)Prof. P. U. Nwangwu     -    Spiritual Adviser
4)Prof. N .N. Elekwa        -        Former Head, Department of Public  Administration, UU
5)Chief Dr. Mrs. M. A. Obi    -    Matron - Department of Public Administration, UNN
6)Dr. O. N. Nwakairi        -    Department of Adult Education,  University of Nigeria – Nsukka
7)Chief Dr. Ndu Ukoha    -    9A Aba Road, Aba – Abia State
8)Engr. Denis Ikechukwu    -    20 Bendel Road, Off. Creek Rd.  Water Side – Port – Harcourt