Experts have reminded every young Nigerians that thriving is possible, purpose is real, and growth is a journey worth taking.
These advice were given at the Pârâhgon Holistic Development Conference organised by the Thrivers Trybe held at the Oladipo Akinkugbe Hall of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo.
With the theme: Be Fruitful. Be Excellent,the conference was conceived as a transformative gathering for teenagers and young adults across Ondo State.
According to the host, The Thrivers Trybe, the event aimed to sparking a movement of intentional personal growth, rooted in the belief that every individual is multifaceted and that thriving requires development across all spheres of life.
The organisers, however, commended the UNIMED PRO unit for the support in making the conference a huge success, said the programme marked a turning point for the participants sparking introspection, clarity, and commitment to growth.
“The Thrivers Trybe has already launched mentorship programs across institutions, hosting follow-up workshops and development sessions. Next, we prepare to organize programmes;Build digital learning platforms for scalable impact and expand outreach to more schools and communities across Ondo State and Nigeria.”
A Personal Development Mentor, Mr.Iyanuoluwa Joseph Akinnusi said personal development is the transitional agent that shifts people from just surviving to thriving.
He challenged the participants to look deeper, unpacking the grammatical oddity of using “are” instead of “is” when addressing a single person.
Akinnusi said, “Perhaps we use “are” because we are plural in nature—multifaceted beings with emotional, spiritual, mental, academic, and social dimensions.”
He drew parallels between biology and personal development, using the seven processes of life (MRS NERG) to illustrate how thriving mirrors survival—but with intentionality.
He explained that sensitivity is introspection and self-awareness while nutrition becomes mindful consumption of knowledge, media, and relationships.
“Excretion unlearning and detoxing from limiting beliefs. Movement becomes intentional progress, respiration becomes social influence and energy exchange and reproduction becomes mentorship and legacy.
“Looking at the three pillars of personal development namely self discovery, self development, and social development and walked the audience through the nine facets of a person’s life, from spiritual and mental to financial and societal impact.
“Thriving begins with self-awareness. So the question is,“How are you?”, and when asked with sincerity, it can be the spark that starts the journey,” he said.
According to Akinnusi, I craved growth and so I threw myself into everything that looked like self-development. I was always quick to jump into learning this, learning that, getting this certificate, getting this skill, paying for this class, attending this webinar and so on, but even with all those, I always felt something was missing.
“I had a lot of skills in my coffer and a lot of knowledge, yet I felt lost. Something didn’t feel right. I felt numb-like I was losing my spark for personal growth.
“Alas, I touched something that transformed my life forever. My enrollment for classes and webinars became minimal, and my hunt for skills and certificates reduced. That’s when I stumbled upon something that redefined everything. It’s simple: “An organism thrives in its niche. Humans are no different.”
“If my self development is not tailored towards my person, my purpose, my potentials and my destination, I will keep toiling, whether I realize it or not. The way to know one’s self is through self-discovery.”
He described self discovery as the act of uncovering the real you; beneath the noise, titles, and expectations.
“Self-discovery is an act or a process; which means that it is continuous. It isn’t something you do one and end there; in fact, you are required to keep embarking on this journey regularly, especially as you enter into the new season of your life.
“To discover and understand one’s self, you need to ask questions, but here we call them gates. So, on the path of self discovery, you will encounter five gates, and each gate presents its own question.
“You’re required to answer the question before gaining entrance into each gate. It is advisable not to jump any gate but rather to go through these diligently for a holistic self-discovery.
“We have gate of identity “Who are you?”, the gate of legacy or heritage “Where are you from?”, the gate of purpose “Why are you here?”, the gate of potential “What can you do?”, and the gate of destination “Where are you going?”.
He noted that human development needs nine facets;spiritual, mental which includes mind and soul, physical (Health/Fitness), social, academical, career, financial, marital and societal impact.
Also speaking,a passionate educator and faith-based mentor, Mrs. Adeola Akanni emphasized the importance of excellence as a lifestyle.
Akanni said, fruitfulness of character, spiritual depth, and the pursuit of purpose encouraged people to live lives that bear lasting impact.
The participants includes secondary school students, undergraduates, postgraduates, and youth leaders from various institutions across Ondo State.
The participants shared personal goals such as becoming medical professionals, building businesses, growing spiritually, and making meaningful societal contributions.
This cross-institutional presence created a unique blend of perspectives and fostered intergenerational dialogue.
The Thrivers Trybe, a youth-led organization committed to holistic personal development across spiritual, academic, emotional, professional, and societal dimensions.