The University of Abuja has organised a youth leadership clinic in Sokoto State to equip youth with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive positive change in society.
The clinic, which was held under the Abuja Leadership Centre over the weekend in Sokoto State, was part of the university’s MSC and PhD student way of giving back to society. The participants were drawn from notable secondary schools in the state.
In his welcome address, the coordinator of the youth leadership clinic, Engr. Zayyanu Tambari Yabo said his motivation hinged on the fact of wanting to see youth becoming good leaders in the country.
He said he has the belief that today’s youth have what it takes to become better leaders of tomorrow, looking at the fact that “youth are now in a digital era where everything is at their fingertips.”
Yabo said they are not unaware of the challenges that lay ahead as youth leaders, stating that limited resources, inadequate infrastructure and social expectations are some of the constraints to youth potential.
In his opening remarks, the Director of the Abuja Leadership Centre, Professor Gabriel Ukertor Moti, said the youth leadership clinic has been conceptualised to give back to the nation by grooming youth on how to become better leaders.
Moti said that Nigeria has suffered from leadership and governance, henceforth the need to set up the Abuja Leadership Centre, which has the mandate of making leadership better in the country.
“We want to bridge the gap between the young and the old so that they do not grow up and get unlinked from the elders, but they are also mentored and what we are doing today is part of the mentorship. Because of that, we picked the students that are already in some leadership position in their various institutions.”
According to the professor, the mentoring will allow the participants to learn certain skills and learn from the mistakes of the elders, which will enable them to craft a better future for the country.
The Sultan of Sokoto, who was represented by the district head of Gagi, Alhaji Sani Umar Jabbi, said it is high time for youth to recognize that they are the future leaders
“The present generation has done damage to our world today; our only hope is the children we have and the yet to be born; laying a solid foundation for them to have access to quality education is crucial in creating better leaders for tomorrow.”
He said the present world is taken over by artificial intelligence and there is a need for the youth to create a niche for themselves. The Sultan implored the youth not to rely on white-collar jobs as a means of livelihood.
Also speaking, the Governor of Zamfara, Dauda Lawal, said his administration is committed to all aspects of youth development, including leadership skills.
He said education is paramount to youth development and that is why the state government is dedicated to improving the education sector. “I want to assure you that our door is always open concerning anything on education.”
UniAbuja Organises Leadership Clinic For Youth In Sokoto is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
Source: The Whistler
