Every young person is a gem.
We exist to prove it.

Because greatness has no postcode.

The Johari Initiative believes that investing and giving developmental access to high-potential young people from underserved communities is not charity. It is the highest-return on investment any community can make.

Apply for scholarship Learn about Johari

Introducing

The Johari Young Leader Scholars Program

We are sponsoring 5 high school students from Agege, Lagos to attend the Daystar Leadership Academy for a 5-day basic leadership course for teenagers.

5
Sponsored scholars
5
Days of leadership training
Jul 27–31
Ikeja, Lagos
Apply for Cohort 1

Application deadline: June 26, 2026 — only 5 places available

Who we are

We are not merely discovering talent, we are enabling the gem in them to shine.

Johari is a Swahili word for jewel or gem of great value. We chose that name deliberately. Every young person we work with is already precious. They do not need to be fixed. They only need access to the right resources, the right experiences, and the right network of people who see them for who they are — GEMS.

The Johari Initiative is a talent development as capital company that treats human development as an investable asset class. We identify high-potential students and young professionals from underserved communities, provide them with structured development through scholarships, mentorship, and fellowship programming, and connect them with investor-backed funding for long-term economic mobility.

The Young Leader Scholars Program is the first of several initiatives we are building to create pathways from potential to opportunity.

Johari Young Leader Scholars Program — Cohort 1

Our first program
is now open.

We are sponsoring 5 high school students from Agege, Lagos to attend the Daystar Leadership Academy, a 5-day intensive leadership program for teenagers taking place on July 27–31, 2026, at Ikeja, Lagos.

These five young leaders will be the founding scholars of The Johari Initiative. They have the rare privilege of carrying that identity and every opportunity that comes with it for a lifetime.

5
Sponsored scholars
5
Days of leadership training
1
Certificate of participation
What you will experience

Five days that could
change everything.

Leadership skills

Build the confidence, communication, and presence that transforms potential into visible, lasting impact.

Self discovery

Understand your strengths, your values, and the unique contribution only you can make to the world.

Community

Join a founding cohort of young leaders who will go further together than any of you could go alone; access resources for continuous growth and personal development.

Eligibility

Is this for you?

This young leader scholarship is designed specifically for young people who have high potential but have not yet had access. If the following describes you, we want to hear from you.

"You are a gem.
We are here to prove it."

We believe every young person carries greatness within them. What stands between potential and outcome is almost always access — to the right resources, the right exposure, and the right people at the right moment.

The Johari Young Leader Scholars Program will take you one step closer to that path.

How to apply

Five steps to becoming a
Johari Young Leader Scholar.

1
Check you meet the eligibility criteria
Review all eligibility requirements before you apply.
2
Complete the application form
Tell us about yourself, your school, and why you want to be a Johari Young Leader Scholar. You will respond to two essay prompts. Essay 1 is compulsory. Essay 2, you will choose between two options. Be authentic and honest with your responses — we want to know the real you.
3
Wait for a response
Selected scholars will be contacted within 1–2 weeks after the application deadline. Only 5 places are available.
To participate in the program, a consent letter from a parent or guardian must be signed and submitted.
4
Attend the full program
Show up physically for all 5 days at Daystar Leadership Academy, July 27–31, 2026, Ikeja, Lagos.
5
Earn a Certificate of Participation
Full attendance is required to earn a certificate and become a Johari Young Leader Scholar.
Application deadline: June 26, 2026 Apply early — only 5 places available for Cohort 1.
Apply now Cohort 1
Frequently asked questions

Got questions?
We have answers.

Who is behind Johari

Meet the founder.

Fope Daniels — Founder, The Johari Initiative
Fope Daniels
Founder, The Johari Initiative

Fope Daniels founded The Johari Initiative from her lived experience. Growing up in an environment with limited access to opportunities, she had to navigate uncertainty alone and believed she would have gone further and faster with the right support. That personal reality, combined with years of working in talent development and workforce systems across Africa and beyond, showed her something clearly: the talent was never the problem. The infrastructure to develop it was.

Fope started Johari because she believes economic development and economic mobility cannot coexist without a deliberate focus on people. When potential is properly developed, everyone wins — the individual, the community, and the economy they help build.

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