The Coordinator of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Abuja, Utibe-Abasi Udotong, has described the YALI Abuja 10-for-10 Legacy Mentorship Programme as a transformative initiative that is equipping young leaders with essential skills. Udotong disclosed this in Abuja during a courtesy visit by members of YALI to the Special Adviser to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Policy and Strategy, Barr. Chimdi Neliaku, as part of the eight-week leadership fellowship programme.
Mentorship Beyond Knowledge Sharing
According to Udotong, the mentorship initiative has gone beyond conventional knowledge-sharing by creating opportunities for participants to build strategic relationships and professional networks that can shape their future. He said: “I am always eager to see people grow. In fact, my greatest joy comes from seeing others develop and succeed. I am very grateful to our leader, Moyo, a former coordinator of the YALI Network, for making this initiative possible. She has not only guided her mentee and shown her the ropes but has also gone beyond sharing knowledge and wisdom by helping her build valuable relationships and networks.”
Highlights of the Programme
Udotong noted that one of the major highlights of the programme was the opportunity for participants to interact directly with Neliaku, whom he described as one of the most outstanding women serving in the legislature. He also highlighted the impact of the YALI Network Abuja Chapter over the last decade, revealing that thousands of young people have benefited from mentorship, internships, leadership development programmes, and community service initiatives facilitated by the organisation.
According to him, the chapter recently marked its 10th anniversary and is currently implementing a mentorship programme that will benefit 30 young leaders across three cohorts. “We currently have an ongoing mentorship initiative benefiting 10 YALI members. By God's grace, we will have three cohorts, which means 30 YALI members will benefit from the programme. Some YALI members are currently working with different companies as a direct result of opportunities created through YALI. Last year, several members also secured placements with companies through the network.”
Partnership for Wider Reach
Also speaking, Project Manager of LIDA Network, Lilian Akpa, underscored the importance of creating platforms that inspire young people to pursue excellence, leadership, and personal growth. Akpa said the organisation partnered with YALI Abuja as a media partner to ensure that the lessons and experiences from the mentorship programme reach a wider audience and encourage more youths to embrace leadership opportunities.
Call for Self-Empowerment
Speaking during the visit, the Special Adviser to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Policy and Strategy, Barr. Chimdi Neliaku, urged young Nigerians to embrace self-empowerment, volunteerism, and excellence, stressing that these qualities remain critical for success in an increasingly competitive world. Neliaku encouraged participants to take advantage of available opportunities regardless of their circumstances, noting that meaningful impact often begins with small steps and a positive mindset. She emphasized that technological advancements, particularly artificial intelligence and internet-based learning platforms, have made skills acquisition more accessible, urging young people to leverage these tools to enhance their personal and professional development.
