By Mercy Aikoye
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has called for deliberate investment in grooming young Nigerians for leadership, insisting that they should no longer be seen merely as the leaders of tomorrow but as active participants in shaping the country’s future. He made the call on Tuesday at the launch of the Leadership for Equity, Advocacy and Development (LEAD) Fellowship organised by the Gender Mobile Initiative (GMI) at the National Assembly, Abuja.
Represented by the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Abbas said leadership goes beyond occupying political office and is rooted in responsibility, accountability and respect for democratic institutions. He stressed that young people must be equipped with the knowledge, ethical values and institutional exposure needed to transform ambition into meaningful public service.
The Speaker described the 18-month fellowship as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s democratic future, noting that it would prepare 1,000 student leaders from 10 tertiary institutions for ethical leadership, policymaking and governance. He urged participants to focus on solving societal problems rather than merely seeking political offices, adding that Nigeria needs leaders who are ethical, inclusive, technologically driven and institutionally minded.
Abbas also reaffirmed 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 said the proposal is intended to remove structural barriers confronting women without preventing them from contesting existing elective positions.
He further advocated greater inclusion of women, persons with disabilities and other historically marginalised groups, describing inclusive governance as essential to democratic legitimacy and stronger institutions. To ensure the fellowship’s long-term impact, he proposed the establishment of a LEAD Alumni Policy Network to promote mentoring, policy research and collaboration among participants.
Executive Lead of the Gender Mobile Initiative, Omowumi Ogunrotimi, said the fellowship was conceived to bridge the gap between student leadership and opportunities for meaningful participation in governance after graduation. She explained that the programme was inspired by a female student leader who questioned what opportunities existed for ethical student leaders after leaving campus.
According to Ogunrotimi, Nigeria is grappling with a “democratic formation deficit” and a “transition deficit,” where civic talent is disconnected from public institutions. She said the fellowship would provide structured leadership training, mentorship, policy engagement and institutional exposure while promoting constitutionalism, inclusion, evidence-based decision-making and public service.
House Spokesman, Hon. Akin Rotimi urged the pioneer fellows to prioritise character, competence and service above political power, stressing that effective leadership emerges through deliberate preparation. He said the fellowship aligns with the 10th House Legislative Agenda, which promotes inclusion, accountability and citizen engagement, adding that democracy works best when young people actively participate in governance.
