A young professional from Kwara State and member of Kwara Creatives, Taofeek Alata, has represented Nigeria at the 2026 International Youth Festival in Russia, after being selected as one of 10,000 young people from 113,000 applications across the world.

Alata was among 5,000 international participants selected from 191 countries, alongside 5,000 participants from Russia, for the international youth gathering.

During the festival, the Kwara-born youth development advocate represented Nigeria in various engagements, contributing to discussions around Russia's electoral processes as an international observer.

He also participated in media interviews and engagements, using the global platform to showcase Nigerian and African excellence, perspectives and achievements.

The 2026 International Youth Festival brought together young people from different parts of the world, providing a platform for cultural exchange, dialogue, networking and conversations around issues affecting young people globally.

Reacting to the achievement, Kwara Creatives, a creative community in Kwara State, celebrated Alata as "one of its own," describing his international representation as a moment of pride for the community and the state.

The community noted that his participation demonstrates the capacity of young people from Kwara to take their work, ideas and impact beyond Nigeria and onto international platforms.

In a statement celebrating Alata, the founder and creative lead of Kwara Creatives, Habeeb Shuaib Ishowo, popularly known as Justice Visual, congratulated him on the achievement and expressed pride in having him as a member of the creative community.

"From Kwara to the world, this is the kind of representation we are proud to celebrate. Taofeek has not only represented Nigeria, he has also shown what young people from Kwara can bring to the global stage," Ishowo said.

Alata is a Youth Development Advocate, Project Manager, Strategy and Sustainability professional, Public Relations practitioner, Executive Operations professional and Social Impact advocate.

His participation in the festival adds to a growing number of opportunities through which young Nigerians are engaging with international communities, exchanging ideas and representing the country on global platforms.

For Kwara Creatives, Alata's achievement is more than an individual milestone. It is also a reminder of the importance of creating platforms that enable young people from Kwara to develop, connect and take their talents and ideas beyond the state.

Kwara Creatives congratulates Taofeek Alata on this achievement and wishes him greater opportunities and impact in the years ahead.