In this short video interview and accompanying article, we spotlight Kaya learner Julius, a humanitarian professional from Nigeria. Julius takes us through his inspiring learning journey, sharing his aspirations both for his personal growth and for the communities he serves.
Hi Julius, tell us about yourself and your work
My name is Julius, I’m a humanitarian professional with over a decade of experience leading multi-sectoral programmes across Nigeria and South Sudan.
I have served in senior leadership and technical roles, within different international organisations such as Plan International, Save the Children, International Rescue Committee, Street Child and finally Finn Church Aid.
My areas of expertise span across education in emergency, child protection, WASH, and food security and livelihoods as well.
Currently I am serving as consulting programme manager in South Sudan with Finn Church Aid, where I’m providing programme leadership and oversee programme delivery and quality, but as well partnership management, donor compliance and engagement for a large scale emergency response.
Tell us about your learning journey with Kaya
In total, I’ve now completed 85 courses with over 255 hours of deep learning, unlearning, and re-learning and that’s just what’s recorded. Some of the most powerful lessons were subtle, surfacing only when real-life challenges tested me.
2018-2020: Humble Beginnings
I was new to the HLA ecosystem. I only managed a few courses here and there. I wasn’t fully comfortable with e-learning, and to be honest, I didn’t realise how powerful it could be.
2022: Turning Point
17 courses in one year. This wasn’t just professional development – it was a mindset shift. The roles I held were demanding, and I realised that “learning on the job” wasn’t always enough. I needed subject-matter indepth knowledge, and HLA gave me just that.
2023 & 2025: Peak Years
2023 saw 27 courses completed.
And 2025 (so far): already 29 and counting. At this point, it’s instinctive. I see a relevant course, I must enrol. Staying updated with trends, tools, and practices is now second nature. No pressure, just curiosity.
Learning with Kaya is more than just ticking boxes and getting certificates. It’s transformation.
What are your key learning takeaways?
- Learning is not always about immediate results.
Some of the courses only became relevant 2–4 years later. But when the time came, I had the tools and the confidence to act decisively. - Free knowledge is powerful, don’t overlook it.
- Investing in knowledge, even without a clear goal, prepares you for challenges that haven’t even surfaced yet.
You never know when that “one course” will become your game-changer. - Curiosity fuels consistency.
I never forced myself to learn. I stayed curious and that made all the difference.
To Humanitarian Leadership Academy, thank you for democratising learning for humanitarians like me. Your platform is more than just courses – it’s a repository of knowledge and wealth of experience.
Thank you Julius for sharing your inspiring story and outlook!
The aim of featuring HLA learners on our website is to inform and inspire humanitarians and the HLA community. These articles do not constitute endorsement or recommendation of the individuals featured. Views expressed by members are solely their own.
