The Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI), has inducted 27 new associate fellows in its bid to grow its network of leaders with integrity in the public and private sectors.
Before their induction, the associate fellows, who are emerging Nigerian public and private sector leaders aged 25 to 35 drawn from different parts of the world, underwent a three-day residential seminar in Epe, Lagos State.
The First Bank-sponsored NLI Future Leaders Seminar, which has produced over 300 NLI associates since inception in 2007, was designed to create a growing global network of credible, accomplished community-spirited Nigerian leaders, who are committed to driving positive change in the country.
At the induction ceremony in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer of the NLI, Mr. Yinka Oyinlola, said their mission was to ensure that Nigeria was governed by character-driven, values-based and purposeful leaders.
“We believe that when we go with the youth and we deepen their leadership learning, hopeful at some point, they will form a critical mass that will drive positive change in Nigeria. This is really important to us because we believe that leadership is not only generational, it is transferable. We have accomplished leaders, NLI senior fellows, we have rising leaders, NLI fellows and these are our future leaders, associate fellows of NLI,” he said.
Oyinlola noted that the 27 new associate fellows were selected from 1088 applicants with considerations for gender balance and spread in terms of geopolitical zones and industries or sectors.
He urged the new NLI associates to move from thought to action and keep their network alive in order to encourage one another to accomplish great feats.
Some of the new NLI associates, including the Executive Director, Naija DC, Chime Asonye; a lawyer and fellow, Mandela Washington Fellow, Maryam Mohammed; broadcast journalist with Channels TV, Adesewa Josh; graduate student, Coventry University, Roseblossom Nnodim; a blogger, Jonah Obaje; social media strategist, Chioma Agwuegbo; and Gbenga Ajayi of Google Nigeria described the seminar as very enlightening and impactful.
They lauded the format of the seminar included readings and discussions that allowed them to deeply reflect on themselves, their values and leadership styles in order to make adjustments where necessary.
The seminar treated topics such as ‘The Good Society, The Nigerian History and Constitution, Challenge of Leadership, Community and Efficiency, Liberty and Equality and Nigeria, Governance and Values.’
