The Abuja Leadership Centre, University of Abuja, has identified poor leadership in children from a very tender age as one of the factors preventing the development of Nigeria, saying there was need to inculcate the right leadership qualities in children from a very tender age.
The observation was made during the training of secondary school students leadership skills over the weekend in Lokoja with the theme “Empowering The Next Generation Leaders” to enable them become agents of national unity, transformation and cohesion for governance.
The clinic, funded by TETFUND Centre for Excellence in Public Governance and Leadership, aims to equip young people with leadership skills and values to enable them to become agents of positive change in their communities.
Philip Dahida, director, Abuja Leadership Centre, emphasised the importance of leadership training for young people with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in leadership roles, saying this was the only way to overcome the leadership problems in the country.
Represented by Adewale Banjo, Dahida stressed that leadership begins at home and that young people should be taught leadership traits from an early age.
“Leadership traits are essential for driving developmental agenda at all levels of society. You need a strong foundation, sound education, and the right values to provide effective leadership at all levels,” he said.
Japhet Omaye, coordinator, Kogi/Kwara Youth Leaders’ Clinic, said the initiative aims to raise emerging transformational leaders through mentorship programmes.
“We want to empower young people with leadership skills and values to enable them to become agents of national unity, transformation, and cohesion for governance,” he said.
