By Angela Atabo

Godspeed Leadership and Mentorship Development Initiative (GLEMDI), an NGO, says early grooming of young leaders is a panacea to tackling bad governance.

The Executive Director of GLEMDI, Mr Habila Kayit, said this at the Third Edition of GLEMDI’s Basic and Post Basic Education Head Boys and Girls Leadership and Mentorship Retreat in Abuja.

Kayit said that the retreat with the theme: “Nurturing Young Leaders for Sustainable Development” was aimed at inspiring young leaders to advocate a positive school environment, driven by principles of good governance and inclusiveness.

“The Head Boys and Head Girls Leadership Retreat is one of our passionate programmes. It is aimed at addressing a challenge that we are having today in Nigeria.

“As citizens, we have been complaining about things that have not been right. For us, we think we do not need to complain, we need to also propose solutions.

“You agree that by virtue of blessings, God has blessed us with everything we need in Nigeria. Are you talking of human resources, material resources? But bad governance and leadership has been the bane of the challenges we are having today.”

According to Kayit, GLEMDI is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting responsible leadership through mentorship among young learners in basic and post basic schools in Nigeria.

This, he said, was to create a renaissance that would focus on service delivery and accountability in leadership among young learners in light of the growing challenges of corruption and governance in Nigeria.

Kayit explained that the Head Boys and Girls were targeted because they would take over leadership position of their schools for complete one year.

“We also want to see how we can teach them to engage in one or two programmes that will be able to leave a lasting legacy in the school environment. Is it tree planting? Is it a path for health initiative? Is it anti-bullying?

“So we are here just to let them understand that they can leave a mark in their schools as Head Boys and Head Girls,” he said.

Kayit said that the idea was to usher them into a larger society to see how they could contribute positively to societal growth.

He said that GLEMDI had held similar event in Kaduna and intended to extend it to the 36 states with support from partners and well-meaning Nigerians.

“The drive to make a stable society is not in the hands of government alone. There is a huge gap in bridging some of the societal challenges.

“With deliberate initiatives by individuals, groups and organisations, young men and women can be redirected to the right pedestal of life making the society a better place for all.”

Sen. Ireti Kingibe, representing FCT, encouraged the youth to imbibe the tenents of good leadership.

“Leaders are not born they are made through constantly building yourself. Leadership is an act of service to people not to self-serving; it is about sacrifice for the betterment of the people.

“Leadership has a lot do to with positive mentality working to ensure that things don’t fail under you as you constantly work to solve problems; so I urge you to strive to leave a legacy behind.”

The Guest of Honour, Mr Kish Jonathan, a legal practitioner, commended GLEMDI for the initiative to build youths on leadership.

Jonathan encouraged the youth to take the lessons being thought seriously as it would help them to build a disciplined life and a great future.

“I am glad that this programme is happening because it connected me to young minds; when I was your age some ministers and dignitaries came to my school to talk to us.

“That experience shaped me to become the person I am today, so I encourage you to take responsibility for your future by deliberately leading positively from this position,” he said.

A participant, Miss Shukurat Sodiq, Head Girl of Premier Academy, commended GLEMDI for the opportunity to be trained promising to cascade the teachings in their various schools.

Mr Hamza Imran-Yahaya, Head Boy of Police Day Secondary School, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, said he enjoyed the training.

According to him, his major takeaway is that leadership is not about ruling people but about service and sacrifice. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

^{Edited by Ese E. Ekama-Williams}