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Nigerian social development expert and technocrat Chinedu Afamuefuna Nsofor has intensified his advocacy for practical education and youth empowerment through the continued expansion of his flagship “Work While in School” initiative, a programme aimed at bridging the gap between academic learning and employable skills.
Nsofor, a professional social worker with over a decade of experience in public service, youth development, and institutional programme management, is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Work after obtaining both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the discipline. 
A Response to Rising Youth Unemployment
The initiative, which began during his student years at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was designed as a practical response to Nigeria’s growing youth unemployment crisis. According to Nsofor, traditional education systems have focused excessively on theoretical knowledge, leaving graduates underprepared for real-world challenges. 
Through structured training modules on innovation, entrepreneurship, and practical skill acquisition, the programme integrates work experience into students’ academic journey, enabling them to develop income-generating abilities while still in school. 
Partnership With Government and Institutions
The initiative has since grown into a national model, with Nsofor’s company, Work While in School Ventures Ltd, entering into collaboration with the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) to facilitate implementation across colleges of education nationwide. 
In addition to this, Nsofor has coordinated several government-backed programmes focused on youth skills development, including the Imo FinTech Programme, which trained over 5,000 young people in digital financial services and contributed to the expansion of mobile money operations within the state. 
Extensive Public Service and International Roles
Beyond his entrepreneurial activities, Nsofor currently serves as Nigeria Country Director for RapidHeal International, a global organization headquartered in Malaysia, and also holds leadership roles in other national and international bodies focused on economic development, sports diplomacy, and environmental sustainability. 
His previous public service engagements include working as a special assistant on special duties to prominent statesman Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, as well as serving on the Imo State Government Committee on Science and Technology Roadmap (2020–2030). 
Over 50,000 Youths Empowered
According to records from his foundation, Nsofor’s programmes have empowered more than 50,000 Nigerian youths through entrepreneurship training, capacity-building workshops, and structured employment initiatives implemented in partnership with government agencies and private organisations. 
These efforts have earned him multiple recognitions, including leadership and entrepreneurship awards from academic institutions and youth organisations during and after his university years. 
Vision for Education Reform
Nsofor maintains that Nigeria’s educational system must evolve to prioritise innovation, creativity, and practical experience if the country is to compete globally and reduce youth dependency on government jobs.
He describes the “Work While in School” concept as not merely a programme but a movement intended to reshape how education prepares young people for the realities of modern economic life. 
Prince Chinedu Nsofor is currently contesting for the Anambra South Senatorial District seat representing the African Democratic Congress (ADC). After defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in early 2026, he transitioned his campaign to focus on what he calls the “Divine Intervention Project.” This follows a notable incident where he was abducted in Kogi State, which prevented him from participating in an earlier by-election cycle. Nsofor, a former Special Assistant to the late Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General, has pledged to donate his entire senatorial salary to community empowerment and the poor. His legislative agenda centers on economic and educational reforms, specifically proposing the creation of an Igbo Development Bank to support local businesses and a “Work While in School” bill to provide vocational opportunities for students. He aims to sponsor over 100 bills focused on industrialization and regional security to drive growth in the South East.
