Participants at the Three Day Governance and Leadership Mentoring Clinic held in Abuja recently have called on governments at all levels, private organizations, diplomatic corps and donor organizations to support the Institute for Governance and Leadership Studies in Africa, IGLSA in its quest to empower Nigeria’s potential leaders.
About 100 participants from various youths’ organizations such as Non-Governmental Organizations, NGOs, clubs and associations and the media were selected from across the 36 states of the Federation and Abuja. The participants urge IGLSA to embark on more membership drive in order to prepare more Nigerian youths for good leadership role.
In a Communiqué issued after the program which was jointly signed by the Executive Director, NGO Network, Kaduna, Mohammed Bougei Attah and Editor-in-Chief of SECURITY MONITOR, Lagos, participants reiterated the need to Improve youths’ participation in governance. They charge Nigerian youths on the need to demand accountability, transparency, rapid growth and development from their leaders and also urge for more participation of youths and media organizations in fostering good governance in the country.
The program was declared opened by Adamawa State Governor, His Excellency, Rt Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, with a Keynote Address that observed that “a major factor which had assailed development in the country, and indeed, in Africa was the severe gap in the capacities for governance and leadership by successor generations.
Earlier in his opening remarks, Dr Lanre Adebayo, IGLSA Director General, DG, urges participants to develop mentors so as to possess needed skills for leadership role. The DG added that the objectives of the Clinic is to develop Nigerian youth leaders with capacity and skills in leadership and governance, to establish an alumni structure of the mentees of the program with a view to providing a national platform for sustainability, mutual reinforcement and attracting attention to issues of governance and leadership.
Professor Nuhu O. Yaqub, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, who served as the Chairman of the Day One, charges the participants to take the Clinic seriously and inculcate the habit of reading, noting that every good leader is a good learner.
A special presentation on the topic: Democracy, Development and National Security was made by Major General K.A Role (Rtd) former GOC, 1 Mechanized Infantry Division, Nigerian Army. And Goodwill messages were delivered from the National Youth Council of Nigeria and some media practitioners.
The first technical paper on the topic ‘Understanding the Role of Multilateral Organizations in Development and Poverty Eradication Program was delivered by Mr. Emmanuel Akinwumi, the President and CEO of Financing and Partnerships Africa limited. Day 1 Session closed with interactive session on the papers and speeches and constitution of Syndicate Groups on GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP, presentations were made by leaders of the two syndicate groups.
Ayodele Folayan, Former Federal Permanent Secretary in his presentation titled; ‘Policy Processes, Management and National Development. Mr. Ifeanyi Peters Ugwuoke, National Program Manager, United Kingdom UK-Aid Partnership to Engage Reform and Learn, PERL, delivered another paper on the topic; Principles, Processes and Practice of Governance
Comrade Wale Ajani, Former President of National Youth Council of Nigeria. Ambassador Dr. Chema Chikwe, Former Minister of Aviation and Former Nigeria High Commissioner to Ireland, Dr. Hope Uweja, Country Director. Results for Development (R4D) Nigeria, Dr. Sina Fagbenro-Bryon, Solomon Adodo, President, National Youth Council of Nigeria and Professor Nuhu O. Yaqub, former Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja mount the podium in turn to share their experiences about governance and leadership process in Nigeria
The third day witnessed an interactive session with reviews and presentations by each and all the participants as well as presentations of certificates to all participants.
