Kayode Olojugba
Your heritage is your superpower: A young voice on identity and belonging.
Kayode Olojugba is one of this year’s young speakers at just 17 years old. A Year 12 student at The Grange School, Hartford, with aspirations to study Economics at university, and an accomplished athlete, Kayode competes in rugby and athletics whilst pursuing interests in mountain climbing, speedcubing, and photography. Outside of his hobbies, he is passionate about supporting other young people to reach their full potential.
During Kayode’s youth, he viewed his black heritage as both a limitation and a weakness. However, he came to recognise his heritage as his greatest superpower. Today, Kayode actively supports ethnic minorities through programmes in mentorship and sports leadership camps, helping young people identify their own superpower. His mission is to empower the next generation to embrace their identities and unlock personal growth and fulfilment.
About the talk
Kayode’s talk will share his personal experiences growing up as a young black man in a predominantly white area, exploring the impact of racial prejudice and the experience of feeling like an outsider. He will speak candidly about how he now celebrates the heritage he once deemed a weakness, and how it became his greatest superpower. Kayode will invite the audience to embrace their own identities and heritage as sources of strength and power. His talk offers solidarity to those who have experienced racial prejudice whilst celebrating personal change and resilience, and he hopes to inspire others seeking to define their identity.
Interesting Facts
Interesting thing about you that people won’t know
I used to play for the Sale Sharks Academy whilst I was representing Chester in athletics.
What achievement makes you most proud?
My contribution to Sale Academy.
What do you get up to in your spare time?
I get up to a range of activities. If I’m not in the gym, I can be found listening to the latest R&B music. Alongside this, I play rugby from time to time.
If you weren’t doing what you’re doing now, what would you be doing instead?
I’d be a personal trainer.