The Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Abubakar Sani Bello, the Honourable Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara have commended Lead Generation Initiative (LGI) for its youth-driven programmes targeted at charging young Nigerians to get actively involved in governance and nation building.
The commendation was made during Lead Generation Initiative’s leadership symposium with the theme – The Future of Leadership: Role of the Youth, which was held on Thursday 21st January 2021 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
Whilst delivering his speech as the keynote speaker at the event, Niger State governor stated that leadership workshop such as the Get Involved Leadership Training (GILT) of the LGI, a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit organization, is very vital to raising competent and charismatic leaders for the country and urged the NGO to remain committed to its laudable programmes.
Similarly, Governor Bello advised the youth to get involved in politics, civic engagement, community development and nation building right from their various units and wards.
In his own remarks, Mr. Sunday Dare, charged young Nigerians to step into the political arena and be prepared to make sacrifices as they get involved in the task of building a Nigeria that all will be proud of. The minister said, “We demand our youths to be educated, diciplined and determined. Government must play its role; our youths must be ready to step into the arena, must be ready to make sacrifices.”
Moreover, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, who was one of the guest speakers at the symposium, emphasized that there is need for the government to remodel the country’s education system, prioritize innovation and training of leaders, adding that a leader cannot act above his capacity.
He said, “We need to remodel our system of education, prioritize innovation to serve as agents of leadership.”
Earlier in her welcome address, the Executive Director of LGI, Chief (Mrs.) Ayobola Abiola Peller, had said,
“Importantly, I need to state that we intend to achieve something great with this symposium. Indeed, the symposium we are having today was borne out of our desire to get more young people involved and exposed to necessary leadership skills that will impact positively on our dear country.
“This explains why we invited accomplished and great personalities worthy of being called leaders to be part of this event. Many of our guests here today are accomplished in various respects, and will help speak to the heart of our youths.
“I strongly believe that by the time we are through with today’s symposium, so many young Nigerians across the country watching and listening would have been further greatly influenced and exposed to necessary unique leadership skills and ideas required of great leaders.”
Moreover, there was a panel session, which had Mr. Olanrewaju Fasasi (Sound Sultan), Mr. Japhet Omojuwa, Hon. Dachung Bagos, Hon. Akin Alabi, Kate Henshaw and Niger State Commissioner for Youth Affairs and Sports Development, Mr. Emmanuel Umar as panelists. The topic of the panel session was *Why the leaders of tomorrow must start leading today.*
In his closing remarks, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the LGI, Hon. Shina Peller, expressed his profound gratitude to all the invited speakers, panelists and guests, whilst he added that LGI is a platform through which genuine leadership is taught.
He said,
“For us, the Lead Generation Initiative has come to teach genuine leadership, make the young people understand the shared and collective responsibility of nation-building.
“LGI teaches the fundamentals of love for our country, patriotism, positioning the right persons for leadership positions, as well as make Nigeria a better place.”
