By joshua 
GC4W Founder awards 30 students scholarships, unveils innovation hub at Holy Child College, Lagos
Ayo Ola
Founder, Global Connection For Women Foundation (GC4W)Ambassador Dr Lilian Ajayi-Ore, has awarded scholarships to 30 students of Holy Child College, South-West, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
Ajayi Ore, also placed the institution on global limelight as she unveiled the Global Connection For Women Foundation (GC4W) leadership and innovation hub in the school after renovating a hall to international standard and artificial intelligence compliance. The hub added two smart televisions, Meta Glasses, Amazon Alexa, and 10 computers.
Recognising Ajayi Ore, the founder of (GC4W), who through the foundation has positively impacted women, the girls child and education, the International Association of World Peace Advocates (IAWPA), United Nations Peace Volunteers at the event on January 19, 2025 decorated her, a retired Comptroller, Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Command, Ambassador Muhammed Aliu Akadri and Administrator, Holy Child College, South West, Ikoyi, Lagos, Rev Sister Ambassador Christiana Oluwafunmike Olagunji, as global peace ambassadors.
Ajayi-Ore said giving out scholarships is her family’s legacy as her brother, Sean Ajayi of the Sean & Tarra Ajayi Foundations has also been giving out scholarships.
She canvassed support and incentives for students to advance in their academic pursuit.
She said: “My organization has always provided scholarships. We gave 30 students who are part of the GC4W Leadership and Innovation Hub scholarship as well. And I’m so grateful that my brother is doing that. We grew up in a household where my mom always say there’s goodness in helping people. His organization is a little green, but I’m happy that he’s giving back as well.”
She explained that her latest book, The Power of the Learning Mindset, co-authored with Marshall Goldsmith and launched during the ceremony, is especially timely. At a moment when learning is often deprioritized, the book serves as a powerful reminder that learning is not just about acquiring skills—it is an opportunity to reimagine possibilities and actively transform one’s future.
She emphasized that learning is the starting point of making the impossible possible.
According to her, the book centers on the concept of the learning mindset, structured around three core pillars. The first is Willingness, which is explored in the section on the learning journey, referred to as learning prowess. She explained that the second pillar is Intentionality, which focuses on leadership prowess, while the final pillar is Nurturing, described as coaching prowess—the aspect of the framework that emphasizes care, growth, and development.
She noted that the intention of the book is to encourage young leaders and executives to look inward and critically assess the skills they need to develop, identify areas of untapped potential, and recognize opportunities to unlearn outdated behaviors, build new habits, and eliminate ineffective ones. She said the book challenges readers to ask important reflective questions such as: Am I the right person for this role? Do I have the skill set required? Am I demonstrating leadership prowess in action?
“This book is not just for Nigerians; it is for everyone,” she said. “The momentum around the book is already strong. Its purpose is to transform how people think about personal growth, community impact, and giving back.” She added that the book includes assessments, reflective questions, real-life examples, and guided reflection points designed to support readers through what she described as the learning prowess map. This framework helps individuals identify priorities, evaluate their current situations, cultivate a learning-oriented culture within their organizations, and ensure that learning remains top of mind in business and leadership practices.
Speaking on why she unveiled the Leadership and Innovation Hub at the school, Ajayi-Ore said the decision was driven by three key reasons. “First, I wanted to give back to a school that played a foundational role in my life. Although I was a Holy Child student for just one term and I was just ten years old when my mother who was on exile because of her involvement in the June 12, 1993 struggle in Nigeria took my siblings and I to the United States,the impression this institution left on me helped shape who I am today,” she said.
She explained that with the launch of her book, The Power of the Learning Mindset, she felt compelled to do something different—something tangible that reflected her commitment to education and learning. She added that the establishment of the hub represents her personal investment in knowledge capacity building and reflects the strengthening of her relationship with God during her time as a student at the school, which made the moment particularly meaningful.
Ajayi-Ore further explained that the mission of GC4W (Global Connection for Women) is three-pronged: to connect, educate, and empower women and girls across the world. “We have been in existence for over ten years, and for nine consecutive years, we have received the Best Manhattan Charity award,” she said. “Our mission has always been to create leadership opportunities, scale women in business, and support young girls in school.”
On the state of Nigerian education, the educationist described it as commendable, noting that there are fewer distractions compared to some advanced educational systems. “I think we are on target,” she said. “One thing I appreciate here is the absence of phone distractions. In more developed environments, distractions are far greater. However, the tenacity, intelligence, motivation, and desire for growth among students here are very aligned with community values. Both Nigerian and international academic institutions are structured to help students win, which aligns with the focus of the book.”
She, however, emphasized the need to further upscale Nigeria’s educational system. “There is always room for growth in education,” she said. Drawing from her experience as a Chief Learning Officer, she explained that closing the learning gap is critical. “Learning is not just about retaining knowledge; it is about transferring and applying knowledge in new contexts.”
She stressed the importance of increased exposure to STEM education, noting that it is a key component of the project. She also highlighted the value of building networks that allow students to connect with peers from other communities, describing peer-to-peer learning as a powerful accelerator of educational outcomes. “We do not build schools around individualism; we build communities around students,” she said.
Ajayi-Ore also addressed the importance of balancing the education of the girl-child with that of the boy-child. She explained that while her focus on Holy Child College was deeply personal, broader educational efforts must be inclusive. “Women were underserved for a long time, and significant progress has been made,” she said. “Now, the focus must be on balance—bringing boys into the picture while continuing to empower girls. Our work provides access to both.”
Speaking at the event, Ajayi-Ore’s mother, Hrh Queen Mother Ambassador Amina Temitope Labinjo Ajayi, emphasized the importance of giving back to society and one’s alma mater. She encouraged members of the diaspora to support educational development through scholarships, infrastructure improvements, and other investments that raise academic standards.
She described their philanthropic efforts as aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “I am proud of what my daughter has accomplished,” she said. “Giving back is a value we have passed on. She has done this work consistently for over ten years in the United States and various parts of the world, and now she is doing the same at home.”
She added that empowering people and uplifting communities remains her core mission, noting that true impact lies in service and long-term societal development.
The Director of Education, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Msgr. Jerome Oduntan, who represented His Grace, Archbishop Alfred Martin, commended Ajayi Ore for her philanthropy and investment in education, emphasizing the importance of quality education for societal advancement.
Similarly, the Administrator of Holy Child College, Rev. Sister Christiana Olagunju, praised Ajayi Ore’s contribution, describing it as unique and overwhelming. She noted that while alumni groups have supported the school in the past, Ajayi Ore’s singular investment stood out.
“To God be the glory,” she said. “This facility will benefit not only our students but also guests and partners locally and internationally. It broadens the students’ perspectives and positions them as global learners. This would not have been possible without God’s guidance through Ambassador Dr. Lilian Ajayi-Ore.”
The beneficiaries of the scholarship expressed happiness and thanked Ajayi-Ore for her magnanimity.
One of them, Miss Francis Osude said: “ I feel really happy and honour for the scholarship. It will help me further my education and ambition of becoming a software engineer. I thank her very much for it.