Jonas Ezieke, Abuja
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has said 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 at the launch of the LEAD Fellowship organised by the Gender Mobile Initiative at the National Assembly on Tuesday in Abuja, Abbas said the country’s large youthful population must be equipped with the knowledge, ethical values, institutional exposure and leadership skills required to transform ambition into meaningful public service.
The Speaker who was represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon Kafilat Ogbara, said leadership goes beyond occupying political office, stressing that it is fundamentally about responsibility, accountability and respect for democratic institutions and the rule of law.
“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. Without this preparation, they risk squandering the opportunity to effect real, lasting good,” he said.
The Speaker commended the LEAD Fellowship for targeting students in tertiary institutions, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s democratic future.
“The youths are no longer merely the leaders of tomorrow; their time has come. As voters, innovators, entrepreneurs and community leaders, they deserve the power to influence the decisions that shape their lives today,” Abbas added.
He said the fellowship would help build a new generation of leaders capable of understanding public policy, questioning the use of power and strengthening institutions that outlive individuals.
Abbas also praised the fellowship’s inclusive approach, saying the deliberate inclusion of women, persons with disabilities and other historically marginalised groups was essential for strengthening democracy.
“The inclusion of women, persons with disabilities, and historically marginalized groups is not an act of benevolence. It is a matter of basic justice, democratic legitimacy and institutional effectiveness. A democracy that excludes large sections of society cannot be said to be representative,” he stated.
The Speaker reiterated the House of Representatives’ commitment to improving women’s political participation through the proposed constitutional amendment seeking the creation of special seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly.
He explained that the proposal was designed to address the long-standing under-representation of women without preventing them from contesting existing elective positions.
“Let me be absolutely clear: we are not attempting to lower the standard of leadership. We are attempting to remove the barriers that prevent capable women from even reaching the starting line,” he said.
Abbas identified inadequate campaign finance, exclusion from party structures, cultural stereotypes and electoral violence as major obstacles confronting women seeking elective office.
He challenged beneficiaries of the fellowship to focus on solving societal problems rather than merely seeking political offices, urging them to become ethical, technologically driven and institutionally minded leaders.
“Nigeria does not need a generation that is simply more ambitious than the one before it. Our nation needs a generation that is wiser, more ethical, more inclusive, more technologically advanced and more institutionally minded,” he said.
To ensure the programme’s long-term impact, the Speaker proposed the establishment of a LEAD Alumni Policy Network to enable fellows to continue mentoring one another, conduct policy research and collaborate on initiatives that promote national development.
He also reaffirmed the House of Representatives’ commitment to partnering with the Gender Mobile Initiative to strengthen citizen engagement, promote inclusive governance and support reforms aimed at widening political participation.
Abbas stressed that constitutional reforms, particularly those relating to women’s representation, would require sustained advocacy and collaboration beyond the National Assembly, including engagement with State Houses of Assembly.
“The work before us is both legislative and societal. We continue to change the law where the law is the barrier. We are also changing institutions where institutions are the barrier. Finally, we must change attitudes where attitudes are the barrier,” he said.
Describing investment in people as the most important investment any nation can make, Abbas said a well-educated, ethically grounded and institutionally minded generation would be the key to Nigeria’s renewal.
He commended the Gender Mobile Initiative for establishing the LEAD Fellowship, expressing confidence that it would produce future legislators, policymakers, jurists, entrepreneurs, academics, technology innovators and civil society leaders committed to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
The Executive Lead of Gender Mobile Initiative, Omowumi Ogunrotimi, said the initiative was conceived to address the growing disconnect between student leadership and opportunities for meaningful participation in governance after graduation.
The initiative launched the Leadership for Equity, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) Fellowship, an 18-month leadership programme aimed at grooming 1,000 student leaders across 10 tertiary institutions for ethical leadership and public service.
She disclosed that 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, with support from the Open Society Foundations.
Ogunrotimi said the idea for the fellowship was inspired by the experience of a female student leader who questioned what opportunities awaited ethical student leaders after graduation.
According to her, the student recounted the challenges of navigating campus politics marked by political gatekeeping, transactional practices and attacks on personal integrity before asking, “Even if I survive all this, if I graduate and maintain my integrity, where do I go next? That single, courageous reflection became a mirror held up to our entire national governance ecosystem. It became the catalytic seed for why we are convened here today,” she said.
She noted that while young Nigerians are already practising governance and organising movements on campuses, society has ignored systemic shortcomings that threaten the country’s democratic future.
According to her, Nigeria faces what she described as a “democratic formation deficit,” where early leadership experiences often reflect transactional politics, patronage, exclusion, abuse of influence and the normalisation of expediency over principle.
She also identified a “transition deficit,” explaining that many exceptional student leaders are left without structured pathways into governance, policymaking and democratic leadership after leaving school.
“As a result, civic talent is often disconnected from the very institutions that need it most,” she said.
Ogunrotimi explained that the LEAD Fellowship was designed as an institutional response to both challenges by providing structured leadership training, mentoring and exposure to democratic institutions.
She said the programme seeks to cultivate a new generation of leaders whose approach to public service would be defined by ethics, constitutionalism, evidence-based decision-making, inclusion and an unwavering commitment to service.
“We are intentionally incubating 1,000 student leaders across 10 pilot institutions. Our ambition is to cultivate women and men whose exercise of leadership will be defined by ethics, constitutionalism, evidence, inclusion and an unwavering commitment to service because democratic stewardship does not emerge by accident,” she said.
The Executive Lead described the fellowship as more than a leadership programme, urging stakeholders to see it as a strategic investment in national security, human capital development and democratic renewal.
She said participants would undergo structured learning, engage with policymakers, academics and civil society leaders, and participate in policy conversations designed to bridge the gap between civic leadership and public institutions.
Ogunrotimi called on government institutions, development partners and civil society organisations to support the initiative, expressing confidence that it would produce a generation of ethical leaders capable of strengthening democratic governance and improving public institutions in Nigeria.
The Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr., urged young Nigerians to prioritise character, competence and service above the pursuit of political power, insisting that the country’s future depends on deliberate investment in ethical leadership.
Rotimi said effective leadership does not emerge by chance but through intentional mentoring and preparation.
He described the fellowship as a timely initiative that would equip young Nigerians with the values, skills, exposure and networks required for leadership and public service.
“Strong institutions require capable leaders. Leadership must therefore be identified, nurtured and developed,” he said.
According to the lawmaker, who represents Ekiti North I (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency, the fellowship aligns with his legislative philosophy of “Leaving No One Behind,” which seeks to promote inclusion, democratic participation, accountability and equitable access to opportunities for women, young people, persons with disabilities and underserved communities.
Rotimi said Parliament functions best when it works closely with civil society organisations, researchers, development partners and citizens, commending the Gender Mobile Initiative for its sustained contributions to legislative reforms.
He recalled that the Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Educational Institutions Bill, passed by the House in October 2024 and by the Senate in November 2025, benefited significantly from GMI’s advocacy and technical support.
The lawmaker also highlighted his sponsorship of the Independent Candidacy Bill and the Special Seats for Special Interest Groups Bill, saying both legislative proposals were designed to expand democratic participation and strengthen the representation of women and persons with disabilities in the National Assembly.
He noted that the 10th House of Representatives had pursued transparency, inclusion, citizen engagement and institutional reforms through its Legislative Agenda, adding that the House had expanded public participation in lawmaking over the past three years.
Rotimi said that under Agenda Six of the Legislative Agenda, the House committed to developing a National Assembly Youth Engagement Strategy and has consistently engaged young people through structured policy dialogues.
He cited the Youth Town Hall held during the 2026 National Assembly Open Week, themed “2027 Elections: Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Truth,” as part of efforts to deepen youth participation in governance and strengthen electoral integrity.
“These efforts reflect a clear conviction: young people must not remain spectators in governance. Democracy works best when young people participate, organise, engage institutions, contest ideas and hold leaders accountable,” he said.
The House spokesman stressed that Nigeria must revive the tradition of nurturing leaders from student movements and civic engagements, noting that many of the country’s most influential leaders first developed their leadership skills on university campuses.
“If we want better politics, stronger institutions and more accountable governance, we must invest in leadership development long before individuals seek public office. The LEAD Fellowship is part of that investment,” he added.
Addressing the pioneer fellows, Rotimi encouraged them not to be defined by either privilege or adversity but by the choices they make.
He urged participants not to confuse popularity with leadership, visibility with impact, office with service or access to power with preparation for leadership.
“Leadership demands character, competence, discipline, empathy and commitment to the common good,” he said.
Quoting former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, Rotimi reminded the fellows that, “Politics is not a sprint; it is a relay. One must learn how to carry the baton before aspiring to receive it.”
He advised them to embrace apprenticeship, build competence, learn from institutions, listen before speaking, and serve before seeking recognition.
“Nigeria needs leaders who place service above self, strengthen institutions, expand opportunity and advance the public interest,” he said.
Rotimi commended the Gender Mobile Initiative, led by Omowumi Ogunrotimi, and its partners for investing in the next generation of leaders, expressing optimism that the LEAD Fellowship would produce leaders committed to building a more inclusive, accountable, prosperous and united Nigeria.
He charged the pioneer fellows to use the opportunity not only for personal advancement but also to create pathways for others, saying the quality of Nigeria’s future leadership would depend on the investments made in young people today.
The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, said Nigeria’s democracy can only be strengthened through deliberate investment in ethical leadership long before individuals assume public office.
Sulaiman, who was represented Dr Shuaibu Danwanka, described the fellowship as a bold national investment in ethical leadership, democratic resilience and inclusive governance, saying it responds to the critical question of who will lead Nigeria in the future and how the country is preparing its young people for that responsibility.
“Today’s event represents far more than the unveiling of another fellowship programme. It is the launch of a bold national investment in ethical leadership, democratic resilience and inclusive governance,” he said.
According to him, the fellowship aligns with NILDS’ mandate of developing competent leaders, strengthening democratic institutions, advancing evidence-based policymaking and promoting inclusive governance for sustainable national development.
Sulaiman said Nigeria is at a defining stage in its democratic journey and requires leaders whose competence is matched by integrity, whose ambition is guided by service and whose authority is exercised with accountability.
“I have consistently maintained that strong democracies are built not merely by strong institutions but by leaders who possess the intellectual capacity, ethical discipline, emotional intelligence and patriotic commitment to strengthen those institutions,” he stated.
The NILDS Director-General said the institute has expanded beyond legislative research to become a national centre for democratic capacity development, policy innovation, leadership development, youth engagement, gender inclusion and institutional reform.
He noted that through partnerships with the National Assembly, universities, civil society organisations and international democratic institutions, NILDS has continued to strengthen legislative research, evidence-based policymaking and democratic governance.
According to him, leadership development should begin in classrooms, student unions and civic organisations where young people first learn to lead, build consensus and represent diverse interests.
He warned, however, that those same environments could also breed patronage, intolerance, exclusion, abuse of authority and weak accountability if ethical values were not deliberately nurtured.
“Unless we intentionally nurture ethical leadership, democratic values and a culture of service at this formative stage, we risk producing future leaders who replicate these negative practices in our public institutions rather than reforming them,” he said.
Sulaiman commended the LEAD Fellowship for adopting a comprehensive model that combines structured learning, peer engagement, policy training and institutional placements to prepare young people for leadership.
He added that the fellowship aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of youth development, human capital development, inclusive governance and institutional reform.
Addressing the pioneer fellows, he urged them to uphold integrity, competence, innovation, collaboration and accountability, stressing that true leadership is measured not by titles but by positive impact and service to others.
He reaffirmed NILDS’ commitment to supporting the initiative through research, democratic education, legislative capacity development and strategic partnerships, expressing confidence that the fellowship would produce a new generation of ethical leaders capable of strengthening democratic governance and advancing Nigeria’s development.
