Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has advocated intentional investment in young Nigerians to prepare them for leadership positions and public policy responsibilities, stressing that strong institutions depend on individuals with the right skills, values and leadership capacity.
Chidoka, Founder and Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, made the appeal in Abuja during the graduation ceremony of the first set of participants in the Athena-Anchoria Junior Fellows Programme. A total of 13 young Nigerians drawn from the country’s six geopolitical zones completed the six-month leadership and public policy fellowship.
In a statement released by the centre on Friday, Chidoka maintained that Nigeria could not expect its institutions to become stronger without consciously preparing the next generation of individuals who would manage them.
“We cannot continue to demand better institutions without deliberately investing in the people who will lead them. Institutions do not build themselves. People build them,” Chidoka said.
The fellowship, which received partial support from Anchoria Group, attracted 13 participants from 11 states, representing various universities and 11 academic disciplines.
The fellows participated in six months of virtual classes and mentorship, with monthly stipends provided throughout the programme. They subsequently attended a week-long residential session in Abuja, where each graduate was presented with an HP laptop to facilitate further research and writing.
According to Chidoka, the initiative was established to unite young Nigerians from diverse backgrounds and provide them with the expertise and practical knowledge needed to make meaningful contributions to public policy, governance and national development.
“We brought together young Nigerians who might otherwise never have met from different regions, universities, disciplines and experiences, and asked them to learn, argue and grow as one cohort.
“If we are serious about building the Republic we all dream of, learning to live, think and work across, our differences has to become a habit,” he said.
The participants received instruction from the Athena faculty and several experienced policy professionals, including BudgIT’s Seun Onigbinde, Dr Sam Amadi and Dr Dakuku Peterside.
Their training covered financial literacy, investments and practical economic decisions, alongside governance, public policy, research and leadership development.
As part of the fellowship requirements, each participant produced an essay on citizenship and national identity, drawing inspiration from the line, “Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand,” in Nigeria’s National Anthem.
The essays explored themes such as national identity, inclusion, equal citizenship and the collective responsibility of building a nation.
Athena Press later compiled the 13 contributions into a book titled Though Tribe and Tongue May Differ: Young Nigerians on Belonging, Equal Citizenship and the Work of Nation-Building.
The publication marks the beginning of an annual collection known as The Republic We Are Building, through which future fellowship participants will examine Nigeria’s national aspirations in relation to its development challenges.
Chidoka described the National Anthem, the National Pledge and Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution as collectively embodying what he called “the promise of the Republic”.
He explained that these national documents express Nigeria’s aspirations for justice, equality, dignity, unity and opportunity, adding that every generation has a responsibility to turn those ideals into meaningful progress for citizens.
“They describe the Nigeria we say we want: a country founded on justice, equality, dignity, unity and opportunity. Every generation inherits that promise, and every generation must convert the promise into performance through the institutions it builds, the standards it enforces and the everyday experience of the citizen,” he said.
The fellows also interacted with individuals and organisations outside the Athena Centre to gain practical insights into policy formulation and national service.
Patrick Okigbo, Founding Partner of Nextier, spoke about Nigeria’s development opportunities and the experiences of young Nigerians, while representatives of the organisation engaged the graduates on career prospects in policy and advisory services.
The participants also met with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, who highlighted the importance of gaining international exposure, returning to Nigeria and contributing to the country’s development.
Following the engagement, one of the fellows was selected to participate in the upcoming Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance.
Speaking on behalf of the graduating class, the Overall Best Fellow, Ezekiel Adebisi, said the programme had strengthened their analytical abilities and deepened their understanding of their responsibilities as young professionals.
Adebisi explained that the participants entered the fellowship as young professionals searching for answers but were leaving with more insightful questions, improved skills and a better appreciation of how knowledge could influence society.
He encouraged his fellow graduates to maintain integrity and embrace evidence-based decisions in their future dealings with public institutions.
He also warned against mistaking proximity to political power for the ability to deliver meaningful societal change.
“We came to learn how institutions shape nations. We leave committed to shaping institutions that serve nations,” he said.
The graduating participants are Augustina Enuwa Abakpa, Rashida Bafashi Abubakar, Yahaya Abubakar, Ezekiel Adebisi, Afodun Muhammad Saheed, Adaobi Ayogu, Kosisochukwu Praise Bosah, Enegbuma Angelica Onagiekhuwemhe, Haruna Hassan Suleiman, Mohammed Baba Kale, Daniel Nnamani, Eunice Olasunkanmi and Shedrack Owen.
Chidoka urged the graduates to assess their achievements based on the positive impact they make in the institutions and communities they serve rather than the academic certificates they receive.
The Athena Centre disclosed that the Junior Fellows Programme would continue with subsequent batches as part of its commitment to preparing young Nigerians for leadership, public policy and nation-building roles.