When Opportunities Knock - "Young Women of Africa" Conference | Baya Dian Njeunue

This was indeed my year of completeness! 2025 has been an absolute rollercoaster of amazing events in my life. One of the highlights was definitely attending the Open Dreams Graduate Summit. I mean, who wouldn't want to be surrounded by greatness? I had the privilege of hearing from an incredible lineup of speakers, including Madam Yiviri Rasifatu, Prince Donald, Moses Afopezi, and Seka Blaise, to name a few. Their stories of resilience, and determination were truly unfathomable. It was like they were speaking directly to my soul. It sparked something in me, and I made up my mind to stop playing small, stop staying quiet, and start seizing every opportunity that comes my way.

Fast forward to November 2025, when life threw another amazing opportunity my way. A close friend shared a link with me, and my first reaction was a mix of curiosity and a little fear. You know, the usual "is this legit?" thoughts. But I took a deep breath, clicked the link, and dove in. I am glad I did! The conference theme was a PERFECT match with one of my ongoing projects – Women in Leadership. My excitement skyrocketed, and I got all the requirements together and submitted my application, hoping for the best.

And then, like a dream come true, I received an invitation letter from Young Women of Africa to attend a fully-funded program in Ethiopia (Dec 8-10, 2025) at the African Union HQ in Addis Ababa. I was, and still am, beyond grateful. This was such a huge opportunity that made one of my dreams come true. The program was a bliss, and I connected with ladies from over 30 African countries who are like-minded, learning from leaders and some AU representatives.

I am so grateful for the Open Dreams Graduate Summit for sparking this fire in me, and for the Young Women of Africa for this incredible opportunity. - Baya Dian Njeunue | Open Dreams