Nigerian-born social impact advocate and education reformer, Hammed Kayode Alabi, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Being Edinburgh Alumni Award by the University of Edinburgh, in recognition of his transformative contributions to education and community development.
The award was presented to Alabi during the university’s summer graduation ceremony, where he addressed graduating students and guests.
In a post on Facebook, Hammed said, “Today, The University of Edinburgh awarded me the 2025 Being Edinburgh Alumni Award for being an exceptional alumni who has made a transformative impact in my field and community.
“As I received the award today at the summer graduation. I shared a few words with the graduands and the audience present. It took me back to when I visited Makoko slum last year (the place I was born and raised).
“It became small to me and I was thinking why did that happen. It used to be big when I was young and I thought what shifted was not it being small. It was that my horizon had expanded. I had seen the world far away from the slum and I could also see the slum closely and even the problems more closely.
“And it just clicked to me that every child deserves an opportunity to explore the world, an opportunity to get the best education, like I have gotten today and be able to harness their full potential.
“It was a commitment written in words and vows being fulfilled. I could recall that after graduation in 2021, I made a promise to use the privilege for the good of others, and that same year I raised £1500 in 72 hours for a young man who needed flight fees and other travel logistics to start their bachelor’s degree in India. I did that for a couple of other young people after that one.
“I scaled our Skill2Rural Bootcamp and career readiness workshops from 3 states to 14 states in Nigeria and even refugees in Malawi used our resources. I went ahead to build an Edtech platform to democratize access to life and 21st-century skills and built Rafiki AI, Africa’s first generative AI career advisor for underserved young people.
“Published two books afterward and many other things that I have chosen not to share because they were deeds between myself and God.
He added: “I never stopped burning and never stopped sharing even when my work and worth were questioned by the UK immigration system, I showed up. And to be recognised in this way is a testament to those statements.
“That even when you were born in a place like Makoko and the odds were already against you. You can dream. It is a testament to those like me who have lost one or two of their parents, that they can find purpose in grief.
“As I said in my speech today, it is day one and I am a story that is still unfolding,” he concluded.
