I created the Future CEO & Business Establishment Program in response to a gap I repeatedly observed in conventional education: many young people are labeled as weak learners, yet their talents remain undiscovered and unsupported. Traditional systems often prioritize memorization and uniform academic performance, leaving behind students who think differently, struggle with writing, or learn better through practice. I wanted to design an innovation that recognizes ability beyond exam scores and gives every learner a pathway to succeed.
The program was also inspired by real experiences. We worked with students, including those with dyslexia, who had lost confidence in school. With the support of AI tools, practical business tasks, and teamwork, these learners were able to communicate ideas, build projects, and excel in areas such as technology, design, and problem-solving. This revealed that the challenge was not intelligence, but access to the right tools and learning approach.
Another reason for creating this innovation is the urgent need to prepare young people for the realities of the modern world. Many students graduate without entrepreneurial skills, digital literacy, leadership experience, or an understanding of how to create opportunities. The Future CEO Program introduces learners early to business thinking, ethical leadership, collaboration, and innovation, using real-world projects rather than abstract theory.
Salisu Isah Ahmed (Founder)
The Future CEO & Business Establishment Program is a hands-on, experiential learning initiative, delivered mainly on weekends and during school holidays. Students follow a structured timetable combining practical business activities, AI support, and skill development. They work in small teams and choose one of four business tracks: culinary, agriculture, craft, or media. Each team creates a business identity, including a brand name and basic structure, and assigns roles such as CEO, COO, and CFO to develop leadership and teamwork skills.
Students use AI to plan operations, generate ideas, improve writing, design content, and create simple websites. Tools like Canva help them build logos and marketing materials. The program also teaches online marketing through major social media platforms, proposal drafting, pitching, and project management. Learners apply these skills to launch mini-businesses, solve problems, and collaborate effectively. By integrating practical tasks with technology and leadership roles, the program transforms education from theory to practice. Students gain confidence, discover strengths, and develop entrepreneurial and digital skills. Even learners who struggle academically, such as those with dyslexia, are supported to succeed. In practice, the innovation creates an active, inclusive, and global-ready learning environment, preparing students to become creators, innovators, and future leaders who can contribute meaningfully to their communities.
The Future CEO & Business Establishment Program is currently being implemented at SIA Schools, where it has created a focused and high-quality learning environment for students. Although the program is not yet officially running in multiple schools, it has begun to spread organically because students from other schools are attending to participate. This shows that there is strong interest and demand beyond the host institution.
Through this approach, we have been able to observe firsthand how learners from diverse educational backgrounds respond to practical, project-based, and AI-supported entrepreneurship training. Students who may have struggled in their own schools are gaining confidence, discovering hidden talents, and excelling in business creation, leadership, and digital skills. This success has encouraged word-of-mouth promotion, with parents and peers recommending the program to other students.
We are also documenting each cohort’s progress, including business ideas, AI integration, teamwork, and project outcomes. This evidence makes it easier to showcase the program to other schools, communities, and potential partners. Although the program is currently localized, its design is highly scalable weekend and holiday schedules, AI-supported learning, and flexible business tracks make it easy for students from different regions to participate.
The program’s ability to attract learners beyond SIA Schools demonstrates its relevance,appeal, and potential for wider adoption
If you want to try the Future CEO & Business Establishment Program, the first step is to identify your target group of students, ideally secondary upper students who are ready to engage in practical, hands-on learning. The program can be implemented at your school, youth center, or even virtually. Decide whether it will run on weekends or during school holidays for more intensive sessions.
Next, prepare a clear timetable and structure. The program typically runs over several weekends or a two-week intensive period. Each session combines practical business activities, leadership training, AI-supported learning, and skill-building exercises. You should create small teams and assign roles such as CEO, COO, and CFO so that students experience real leadership and collaboration dynamics.
Provide access to AI tools, Canva, and basic digital platforms. These tools help students plan their businesses, create logos, design marketing materials, and build simple websites. Ensure that each team has guidance on selecting a business track—culinary, agriculture, craft, or media—so they can focus on areas that interest them and reflect their strengths.
Prepare resources for practical learning, including templates for proposals, pitch decks, and marketing plans. Encourage teams to brainstorm ideas, develop prototypes or simple products, and use AI to enhance their creativity and efficiency. Incorporate lessons on teamwork, communication, and time management throughout the process.
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