01
It takes a village.
Most of us can name the aunty, uncle, teacher or older cousin who once told us something that changed everything. A word of encouragement. A door held open. A warning we’re glad we heeded.
Our young people are growing up, studying and starting careers in Britain surrounded by Nigerian excellence: consultants, engineers, barristers, founders, nurses, artists. Yet many never get to sit across from one and ask, “How did you do it?” Naija Mentors exists to make that conversation ordinary.
A mentor is not a tutor, a therapist or a replacement parent. A mentor is a trusted guide who has walked a little further down the road and is willing to turn around and describe it honestly.
02
Five principles we all keep.
Listen first
The mentee's goals lead. Mentors ask more than they tell, and resist the urge to fix everything.
Show up, consistently
Reliability builds trust faster than brilliance. Be on time, keep commitments, give notice if you can't.
Be honest
Share the setbacks as well as the successes. Young people learn more from how you recovered than from your CV.
Small steps, often
Every session ends with one achievable action. Progress is built in inches, not leaps.
Safety, always
Everything happens on Naija Mentors, with parents informed for under-18s. Clear boundaries protect everyone, mentors included.
03 · For mentors
What we ask of mentors.
You don’t need to be perfect, and you don’t need all the answers. You need to be present, prepared and principled. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
- Time
- One or two 45-minute sessions a month, for at least three months.
- Notice
- Reply to requests within 48 hours. Give 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel.
- Preparation
- Re-read the request and your notes before each session. Five minutes is enough.
- Checks
- An enhanced DBS check, ID verification and two references before your first session.
Always
- Ask open questions and let silence do some of the work
- Share your real story, including the detours
- Agree one small next step at the end of every session
- Celebrate effort, not only results
- Point them to free resources, schemes and opportunities
- Tell us if you're worried about anything, however small
Never
- Do their homework, or write their personal statement or CV for them
- Contact them outside Naija Mentors, or follow them on social media
- Offer money, gifts or lifts, or arrange to meet in private
- Promise to keep secrets
- Push your own career path as the only good one
- Criticise their family, school, employer or faith
04 · For mentees
Getting the most from your mentor.
Your mentor is giving you their time because they believe in you. You don’t have to be confident, sure of your future, or top of anything. You just have to be curious and willing to try.
Under 18? A parent or guardian books your sessions and can see your messages. 18 or over? You have your own account: you choose your mentor, book the times and set the pace. The same boundaries apply either way.
Before
- Write down three questions, even if they feel silly
- Find a quiet spot with good light
- Test your camera and microphone
During
- Camera on, phone away
- Be honest about what you don't know
- Take notes: you'll forget more than you think
After
- Do the one small step you agreed
- Send a short thank-you message
- Tell a parent or our team if anything felt uncomfortable
Remember
It’s completely fine to change your mind about what you want to do. That’s exactly what exploring is for.
05 · For parents of under-18s
Your role: present, not in charge.
You know your child better than anyone. Mentors bring something different: distance, a fresh perspective and the credibility of someone who isn’t their parent. The magic happens when both work together.
Once your child turns 18 they can open their own account, and carry on with the same mentor if they like.
Set it up
Read this guide together. Help your child choose a mentor and write the first request.
Stay nearby
For under-16s, be in the room for introductions and within earshot throughout.
Step back
Let your child do the talking. Resist answering for them, even when it's tempting.
Follow up
Ask what they learnt, not what they said. Encourage the agreed next step.
Give feedback
Tell the mentor what worked. Tell us if anything didn't.
Keep it here
Keep messages and links on Naija Mentors, where they're safe and visible to you.
06
The first 45 minutes.
First sessions can feel awkward. A loose structure helps everyone relax. Use this as a guide, not a script.
0–5
min
Hellos
Everyone says hello; for under-16s, a parent joins the start. The mentor explains how sessions work and what's okay to talk about.
5–15
min
The mentor's story
Where they grew up, what they studied, and the moments that changed their direction. Keep it human.
15–35
min
The mentee's world
What they enjoy, what they're working towards, what feels hard. The mentor listens and asks follow-up questions.
35–45
min
One small step
Agree a single, achievable action and a date for the next session. Write it in your Naija Mentors chat.
07
A three-month arc.
Most mentorships here run for an initial three months. That’s long enough to build trust, short enough to stay focused.
Month 1
Get to know
Build trust. Understand the mentee's interests, strengths and worries. Agree what success looks like.
Month 2
Explore
Investigate options: courses, careers, roles, work experience, competitions. Try one new thing.
Month 3
Act & reflect
Take a concrete step: an application, a project, a conversation. Then look back at how far you've come.
08
Questions that open doors.
Mentees might ask
- “What were you like at my age?”
- “What's a normal day in your job?”
- “What do you wish you'd known when you were starting out?”
- “What was your biggest setback?”
- “How did you choose your path?”
- “What could I do this month to get started?”
Mentors might ask
- “What do you enjoy so much you lose track of time?”
- “Which part of your week do you look forward to most?”
- “Who do you admire, and why?”
- “What feels hardest right now?”
- “If nothing could go wrong, what would you try?”
- “What would make our next session useful?”
09
The non-negotiables.
These rules protect young people and mentors alike. Breaking them means leaving Naija Mentors.
- All messages and video calls happen on Naija Mentors
- No private phone numbers, emails or social media
- No private in-person meetings, and never without the family for under-18s
- No gifts, money or favours in either direction
- Parents see every message for under-18s
- Sessions involving under-16s have a parent nearby
10
If something doesn’t feel right.
Occasionally a young person may share something worrying: about their safety, their health or someone else’s behaviour. Every mentor must know what to do before it happens.
Stay calm
Listen without showing shock.
Don't promise secrecy
Explain you may need to tell someone who can help.
Don't investigate
Let them speak; avoid leading questions.
Write it down
Their words, the date and time, as soon as you can.
Report it
Tell our safeguarding lead within 24 hours.
Immediate danger
999
Childline (under 19)
0800 1111
Samaritans (any age, 24/7)
116 123
Naija Mentors safeguarding lead
safeguarding@naijamentors.com
11
Ending well.
Good mentorships end deliberately rather than fading away. In your final session, look back at the first one. What’s changed? What has the young person learnt about themselves?
Some pairs choose to continue for another three months. Others part with a clear plan and a warm goodbye. Both are success. Either way, say thank you, say well done, and say it out loud. It may be the sentence they remember for years.
12
The mentor pledge.
The pledge for
Mentors
- 1.I will show up, on time and prepared.
- 2.I will listen more than I speak.
- 3.I will be honest about my journey.
- 4.I will keep every conversation on Naija Mentors.
- 5.I will put the young person's safety first.
The pledge for
Mentees
- 1.I will come with questions.
- 2.I will be honest, even when I'm unsure.
- 3.I will try the small steps we agree.
- 4.I will treat my mentor's time as a gift.
- 5.I will speak up if something feels wrong.