Hi everyone! I’m Adaugo Felix from Nigeria, a sustainability advocate and founder of iREFURBISH Eco-Hub, a social enterprise turning waste into value while empowering communities through recycling workshops.
My journey into vocational education didn’t begin in a classroom. It started in my room as a curious kid, playing with discarded items and trying to give them a second life. What began as childhood play became a deep passion for fashion, which led me to create my fashion brand, Araverme Wardrobe — and eventually, my recycling initiative, iREFURBISH Eco-Hub.
Growing up, my parents dreamed I’d become a doctor. It was seen as the most stable and respected path. But deep down, I felt pulled toward something more creative, more hands-on. When I embraced TVET, it wasn’t the first option. For many, it’s seen as a fallback. But for me, it became a foundation for purpose, innovation, and impact.
Through TVET, I’ve learned how to build solutions with my hands. I’ve seen women earn income from everyday waste and children turn trash into tools. More than anything, I’ve seen mindsets shift!
Through iREFURBISH, I run hands-on recycling workshops in schools and communities, teaching people how to transform everyday waste into valuable products. Through these workshops, we equip youth and women with skills that spark creativity, generate income, and inspire social change.
TVET has allowed us to meet people where they are. Many of the people we train have little or no formal education. But they have hands. They have creativity. They have potential. And with the right support, they begin to see a path forward, not just for themselves, but for their communities and the environment.
My story is just one example but it shows how powerful TVET can be when it’s actually embraced. The sad part is, so many people still see it as a “plan B,” like it's only for those who didn’t make it in traditional paths. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
That’s why I’m so passionate about changing the narrative. For me, TVET isn’t just about learning a skill, it’s about building a life, creating impact, and even helping save the planet.
Why do you think TVET is still seen as a second option? How can we change that where you live?
What’s already working — and what still needs to change?
Let’s talk about it 👇
