Without Capes and Vocation Deck Launch Nigeria's First Leadership and Identity Residency for Teenagers Across Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt

  By Haruna Gunmi|Lagos reporter

A 6-day intensive programme designed to help young people aged 14–18 answer the two most critical questions of their future: Who am I becoming? And where am I going?

 Two of Nigeria's leading youth development organisations — Without Capes and Vocation Deck — have announced the inaugural edition of the Leadership and Identity Residency (L&IR), a 6-day immersive programme for teenagers aged 14 to 18. The residency is scheduled to run across three cities: Lagos from July 20 to 25, Abuja from August 10 to 15, and Port Harcourt from August 24 to 29, 2026.

Designed to address a growing gap in Nigerian youth development, L&IR moves beyond academic performance and career selection to focus on what its founders describe as the most overlooked foundation of adolescent growth: character. Through guided conversations, reflective sessions, practical activities, and leadership development, participants will explore their natural thinking patterns, problem-solving strengths, and core values — equipping them to make intentional decisions about  themselves and their nation's future.

"We spend so much time asking young people what they want to become, but very little time helping them understand who they are becoming," said Olajumoke Oluwatunmibi, visionary entrepreneur and Founder of Without Capes. "Character is built one decision at a time. L&IR gives teenagers the space, the tools, and the guidance to start building it intentionally."

The residency is the result of a collaboration between Without Capes — a values-driven company known for nurturing young minds through journaling, character-building tools, and creative storytelling — and Vocation Deck, a future-readiness platform with a track record spanning West Africa and the United Kingdom. Together, the two organisations bring a combined depth of expertise in leadership development, education strategy, and youth empowerment.

"Self-discovery, not career exploration, is where the real journey begins," said Doyin Shonubi, education strategist and creator of Vocation Deck, who brings over 16 years of experience across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, and the UK, and has partnered with organisations including Pearson, the Oando Foundation, and the Lagos State Government. "A teenager who knows who they are will always make better decisions about where they are going."

Each city cohort will run daily from 9am to 3pm, accommodating a limited number of participants to ensure an intentional, high-quality experience. The programme is structured around two core pillars: the Inward Foundation — focused on self-awareness, values, and identity — and the Outward Direction, which guides participants toward clarity on leadership, purpose, and career readiness.

Ahead of the residency, the organisations are hosting a free Parent Information Webinar on every Saturday in July and in August 2026, from 10am to 11am on Zoom, where parents can meet the coaches and understand the programme structure. A thank-you gift will be presented to every parent in attendance.

Registration is open via www.withoutcapes.ng. Parents are invited to meet with the coaches on the weekly parent information webinars to reserve a seat register on https://tinyurl.com/LISR2026Cohort For enquiries, contact residency@withoutcapes.ng or call +2349090236330.

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Notes to Editors

About Without Capes: Without Capes is a values-driven youth development company founded by Olajumoke Oluwatunmibi, empowering young people to discover their identity and lead as everyday heroes through journaling, character-building tools, and creative storytelling.

About Vocation Deck: Vocation Deck is a future-readiness platform founded by Doyin Shonubi, helping young people discover who they are, understand their strengths, and make intentional decisions about their future. Vocation Deck has partnered with Pearson, the Oando Foundation, and the Lagos State Government.

Programme Dates: Lagos: 20–25 July 2026 (Ikeja) | Abuja: 10–15 August 2026 (Maitama) | Port Harcourt: 24–29 August 2026

Media Contact: residency@withoutcapes.ng | +2349090236330 | +2348090219119