Speaking
Keynotes, commencement addresses, interviews and podcasts — Faith Abiodun on education, leadership, and the ideas shaping our shared future, from stages and studios around the world.
Education for Peace: EU-UWC Youth Leadership Forum
Faith Abiodun discusses the power of education for peace with EU-UWC scholars following the United for Peace EU-UWC youth leadership forum 2024 in Nicosia, Cyprus.
People First Community Talk: A Conversation with Faith Abiodun
In this People First Talk, Faith Abiodun, Executive Director, United World Colleges (UWC) shares UWC's mission to build a global movement that makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. He shares what they have discovered over UWC's 60+ year history about what’s possible when we invest in growing purpose-driven leaders, who operate with agency and bridge divides. He also shares what it takes to cultivate these capacities in practice, including what the research has shown to be the biggest driver of impact.
Education as a Force: The Future of the UWC Movement
Faith Abiodun - Executive Director of the United World Colleges (UWC) International - visits UWCSEA in Singapore to present at the Kishore Mahbubani Speaker Series (KMSS) on Dover Campus, 16 May, 2024.
Leaning into discomfort: Faith's keynote address to UWCSEA's Class of 2024
Watch UWC International's Executive Director, Faith Abiodun's keynote address to UCSEA's Class of 2024. Faith's inspiring message is a reminder to all UWC recent graduates of the power in embracing optimism, resisting cynicism and leaning into discomfort to make real change happen.
UWC Adriatic Opening Ceremony 2023-24
"Education is the most powerful weapon to change the world" It is precisely with these words that the 2023-24 academic year of the United World College of the Adriatic – the 41st since its foundation – has been inaugurated. The ceremony took place on 30 September 2023 in Venice, in the magnificent Ca' Giustinian palace, home of Venice's Biennale, in the presence of Queen Noor of Jordan, President of the UWC movement since 1995. https://www.uwcad.it/2023/opening
Timing of the Russia-Africa summit: Faith Abiodun
The Kremlin has accused the West, and in particular the United States, of trying to sabotage the Russia-Africa summit that will take place in St Petersburg this week by pressuring African countries not to take part. We are joined by Faith Abiodun, International affairs analyst, Founder and Chair of Future Africa Foundation, a public sector development organisation.
UWC: Sustainable Enterprise Challenge
In September 2022, a group of UWC graduates and I joined Prince’s Trust International to co-present a session on embedding sustainability in education at the United Nations’ Transforming Education Summit. We centred the presentation on findings from the five-year longitudinal study conducted by researchers at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education.
UWC-USA 2022 Graduation Ceremony Address
In May 2022, I was graduation speaker at UWC-USA, at the end of a really challenging year for the school. Having been evacuated weeks earlier from the most devastating wildfire to have hit the region in decades, I honoured the resilience of the graduating class while reminding them of the poignant words of UWC’s founder, Kurt Hahn – “You are needed…”
UWC South East Asia 50th Anniversary Forum
In April 2022, I spoke in Singapore at the 50th anniversary Forum of UWC South East Asia: Learning to Shape the Future. My keynote address on the theme: Commitment to Change contrasted the realities of 1971 when the college was founded and 2022 as it celebrates 50 years. As the world changes, UWC’s education model promotes a sense of agency and possibility in its students.
UWC Thailand: My Vision for UWC Moving Forward
In April 2022, at the culmination of a three-day visit to UWC Thailand, I addressed the community of students, teachers, parents and supporters, speaking about my vision for the UWC movement, while honouring the unique journey of UWC Thailand. I celebrated the school’s unique programme centred on mindfulness and wellbeing, and socio-emotional learning.
UWC Costa Rica 15th Anniversary Speech
In March 2022, I joined the UWC Costa Rica community in celebrating the 15th anniversary of the college’s founding. In my speech, I honoured the college for their commitment to sustainability, decolonizing education and promoting peace through education, particularly referencing current geo-political realities and the enduring relevance of the UWC mission.
Celebrating the UWC Mission: UWCSEA at 50!
In December 2021, in my first official event as incoming Executive Director of the United World Colleges (UWC) International, I joined the President of UWCSEA (Singapore), Carma Elliot, and two students, Ruth and Anthony, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of education, and the place of the UWC movement in helping to shape that future.
Macalester College Commencement 2023
Faith Abiodun delivers the commencement address at Macalester College, speaking to graduates about leadership and purpose.
UWC Today and Tomorrow
Faith Abiodun shares his vision for the UWC Movement in a community forum discussing the origins, present, and future of United World Colleges.