19-year-old Olayinka Richard, an indigene of Ogbomoso and a 3:00-level medical student at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), has been honoured with The Diana Award, the highest accolade a young person can achieve for social action or humanitarian efforts. He was recognised for his work expanding educational opportunities and developing young people through social action.
Richard joins 200 young people from across the world who have received The Diana Award for tackling some of the most pressing issues facing their communities and generation. The Award was established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her belief that, with the right support, young people have the power to change the world.
He is the founder of Beyond Books Africa, a youth-led initiative improving access to quality education, career guidance and leadership opportunities for young people in underserved communities. Several of its in-person programmes have been held in his hometown, Ogbomoso.
The work began in 2023, when Richard set out to offer free online UTME lessons to some of his immediate juniors. The tutorial link was shared beyond that first group, and many more students joined than he had expected, including students from other parts of Nigeria. That effort became Apex Free UTME Tutorials, which has supported over 6,000 students across Nigeria with free UTME preparation and laid the foundation for the wider work of Beyond Books Africa.
Beyond Books Africa has since expanded its work through programmes that support students at different stages of their educational journey. Its Pathway Initiative, run in collaboration with the Federation of Ogbomoso Students’ Union (FOGSU), provides free physical UTME tutorials in two major public secondary schools in Ogbomoso and has sponsored examination registration for several students. The Clarity Project has provided career guidance and exposure to over 3,000 students across 15 public secondary schools, while its university student development programmes equip young people with skills in public speaking, project management, critical thinking, design thinking and leadership.
The organisation has created platforms for young people to engage with leadership and community development. In 2025, Richard convened the Ogbomoso Secondary Schools Conference in collaboration with Young and Excellent Club, bringing together 400 students from 20 secondary schools under the theme “Raising Leaders, Transforming Communities.” He organised Girls Summit Ogbomoso with WiseUp Foundation and Lead Her Forward Initiative, which brought together 150 girls from secondary schools and universities under the theme “Invest in Girls, Lead the Future.” Across all its programmes, Beyond Books Africa has reached over 7,000 young people since 2023. Its sustainability model encourages beneficiaries to return in subsequent years as tutors, mentors and volunteers, so that young people who have benefited become contributors who help others access similar support.
Speaking on what the recognition means to him, Richard said:
“Receiving The Diana Award is a great honour, but it also brings my attention back to the communities and young people who have shaped this journey. I come from Ogbomoso, and I have always believed that where a young person comes from should not determine how far they can go or the opportunities available to them. I hope this recognition reminds more young people that meaningful change can begin right where they are.”
Richard also had a message for young people in the city. He said:
“I want young people in Ogbomoso to know that they can create lasting change in their immediate environment while aiming for the global stage. Putting Ogbomoso on the world map is not the work of one person. It is a collective effort, and every one of us has a part to play.”
Dr Tessy Ojo CBE, Chief Executive of The Diana Award, said of this year’s recipients: “The young people receiving the Diana Award demonstrate what is possible when passion, compassion and determination are turned into action. This recognition comes at a particularly significant moment as we look towards the 30th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 2027. Three decades on, her belief in the power of young people to make a difference continues to resonate across generations and borders.”
Through Beyond Books Africa, Richard continues to work with schools, students and young people in Ogbomoso and beyond, building opportunities for them to access education, discover new possibilities and take active roles in shaping their communities.