By Oluwakemi Kindness
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has called for a deliberate investment in preparing young Nigerians for leadership, declaring that they should no longer be regarded as merely the “leaders of tomorrow.”
Speaking at the launch of the Leadership for Equity, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) Fellowship in Abuja on Tuesday, Abbas said Nigerian youths must be equipped with the knowledge, ethical values and leadership skills needed to shape the country’s future and influence decisions that affect their lives.
Represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Kafilat Ogbara, the Speaker stressed that leadership development should go beyond political ambition to include institutional exposure, accountability and a strong commitment to public service.
“It is high time we prepared young people for power. As the trustees of our tomorrow, they must understand how government works and how to use political office to change society for the better,” he said.
Abbas described leadership as a responsibility anchored on accountability, respect for democratic institutions and the rule of law, noting that the LEAD Fellowship is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s democratic future.
He said the programme, which targets students in tertiary institutions, would nurture a new generation of leaders capable of understanding public policy, strengthening institutions and using public office to deliver meaningful change.
According to him, young Nigerians are already making significant contributions as voters, entrepreneurs, innovators and community leaders and should be given greater opportunities to participate in governance.
The Speaker urged participants to focus on solving societal challenges rather than simply seeking political office, adding that Nigeria needs leaders who are ethical, inclusive, technologically driven and institutionally minded.
He also proposed the creation of a LEAD Alumni Policy Network to sustain mentorship, policy research and collaboration among fellows after completing the programme.
Abbas reaffirmed the commitment of the House of Representatives to partnering with the Gender Mobile Initiative to promote inclusive governance, citizen participation and youth engagement in public leadership.
Earlier, Executive Lead of the Gender Mobile Initiative, Omowumi Ogunrotimi, said the 18-month fellowship was established to bridge the gap between student leadership and meaningful participation in governance after graduation.
She disclosed that the programme will train 1,000 student leaders across 10 tertiary institutions, providing mentorship, structured leadership training and exposure to democratic institutions.
The fellowship is being implemented in partnership with the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement and the Open Society Foundations.
