By Isaac Olufemi Ojo
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Abbas Tajudeen, has declared that Nigeria must deliberately prepare young people for positions of leadership, insisting that they should no longer be regarded merely as the leaders of tomorrow, but as active participants in shaping the country’s future today.
Speaking on Tuesday at the launch of the LEAD Fellowship, organised by the Gender Mobile Initiative at the National Assembly, Abuja, the Speaker stated that the nation’s large youthful population must be equipped with the necessary knowledge, ethical values, institutional exposure, and leadership skills to transform ambition into meaningful public service.
Represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Honourable Kafilat Ogbara, the Speaker noted that leadership transcends merely occupying political office, stressing that it is fundamentally about responsibility, accountability, respect for democratic institutions, and the rule of law.
He challenged the beneficiaries of the fellowship to focus on solving societal problems rather than just seeking political offices, urging them to evolve into ethical, technologically driven, and institutionally minded leaders.
In her remarks, the Executive Lead for Gender Mobile Initiative, Omowumi Ogunrotimi, explained that the programme was conceived to bridge the growing disconnect between student leadership and opportunities for meaningful participation in governance after graduation.
The initiative formally launched the Leadership for Equity, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) Fellowship—an 18-month capacity-building programme designed to groom 1,000 student leaders across 10 tertiary institutions for ethical leadership and public service.
Also speaking, the Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Honourable Akin Rotimi, in his goodwill message, charged young Nigerians to prioritize character, competence, and service above the raw pursuit of political power. He maintained that the collective future of the country heavily relies on deliberate investments in ethical leadership.
