Youth Leadership Alliance Project holds Leadership Development Workshop for Teens

In a bid to help raise a new generation of leaders who have competence, character, and capacity, the Youth Leadership Alliance Project, a leadership development workshop for teens was held in Lagos last week.

The Herald can report that the workshop, facilitated by the Youth Empowerment & Engagement Community Capstone Project Group of the 2023 class of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) is a timely intervention. The group comprises 16 professionals and entrepreneurs from different walks of life spread across Nigeria and the United States.

Speaking with this newspaper, one of the facilitators of the project, Dr. Aderonke Kujore Adelekan disclosed that the workshop was birthed from a capstone project at the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) founded by former Education Minister, Mrs. Obiageli Ezekwesili.

The leadership development expert explained that the project is targeted at harnessing the leadership potential of Nigerian youths to accelerate the nation’s development, adding that it is envisioned as a multi-year programme that will be available in various schools.

On her motivation for getting involved in the project, the US-based Nigerian leadership expert said, “I guess my passion grew out of exposure to bad leaders, an understanding of the small number of good leaders, and the willingness to help turn the tide and develop good leaders”.

Dr. Adelekan noted that the participants “walked away with an understanding of what it means to be good leaders in academics and politics and they also committed to doing the things that make them good leaders”.

Also speaking with this newspaper, Mr. Tejiri Jerry Chunu fondly called Unusualteajay, who facilitated and handled the project’s branding, explained that the project helped to expose the participants to their political reality while encouraging political participation and promoting a sense of patriotism.

The teens leadership and digital parenting expert said, “A good percentage of today’s youth are oblivious of our political reality. Their orientation is easily formed from their dependence on social media, which is vulnerable to driving false narratives.

“They also are not quite interested in public service and majorly lack the required basic leadership skills to lead progressively in public space.

“The Youth Alliance Leadership Project is designed to enlighten today’s youth with basic information that helps build a healthy appreciation of governance, grow leadership competence and capacity with strong and positive character for socio-economic growth of our country, Nigeria.

“The participants at the training were excited to have such rich conversation at their level. They had a heightened sense of responsibility to national development and a commitment to engaging the political process at their level while always sourcing information from credible sources.”

Explaining that the project was a part requirement for the completion of the 2023 class’ programme at the SPPG, the Brand Communication Strategist added that “we are collaborating with other initiatives like the Mini SPPG, Teen Ledershift Project etc. to run the training annually. It will gradually evolve into something bigger”.

Chunu said it behooved every adult to help raise the next generation of competent leaders imbued with the right character.

“I believe the gift every adult can give the next generation is the gift of mentorship. If we are intentional, sincere and committed, we can raise an informed and responsible generation that will be better engaged in public service and governance,” he said.