By Felicia Imohimi
Maxwell Leadership Foundation has inaugurated iLead Nigeria Student Transformation Training and Workshop in Northern Nigeria to promote core values.
Mr Samuel Gbenga, iLead Nigeria Programme Manager said in Abuja that the programme themed “Driving Transformation Through Leadership and Character” was meant to enhance students’ leadership, values, attitude and social skills.
Gbenga said the organisation meant to help students, young leaders and next generation of leaders learn and instill those values that would make them better persons.
According to him, values are the foundation of good leadership.
“iLead is values-based youth leadership content inspired by Dr John Maxwell.
“We believe that in order to prepare the next generation, schools should be able and willing to help them to embrace the right values.
“Studies indicate that investing in students leadership skills inspires cognitive growth by triggering attitudes and values that also enhances their academic development.
“Through iLead’s values-based peer-to- peer groups we can mentor tomorrow’s leaders and give them a foundation that will allow them to succeed now and in their future,” he said.
He identified iLead curriculum student roundtable curriculum as “iChoose+iDo”
Gbenga listed iChoose values as choices, attitudes, relationships, forgiveness, responsibility, initiative, teachability, resilience, growth, commitment, character, self-worth, courage, priorities, self-discipline and influence.
Gbenga, who identified choices as a gift, added that everything in life was a reflection of choices that one made.
According to him, the benefits of choice is that you have freedom, you are in control of your life, have the ability to make your life better and have the possibility to reach your potential.
He identified the biggest outcome or expectations from the programme as transformation on the lives of the students.
“We want to see students saying that because they went through these values, that they are now making better life choices and helping improve their academic outcome and also their character.
“iLead is a global programme happening across the continent and over five million students have benefited from it,” he said.
Mrs Mute Olori, Convener, iLead, said it was meant to be a peer-to -peer mentoring project.
Olori said the programme included training teachers in the Federal Capital Territory and other northern states emphasised that the teachers would in turn cascade it to the students .
According to him, cascading it down will in turn impact no fewer than 1.3 million youths in secondary schools.
She said the programme was a significant opportunity to shape the future of the nation.
“We have always heard young people being told what to do, but this programme will enable students to learn the values within themselves.
“They will hold themselves accountable and will be responsible for whatever actions they take henceforth,” Olori said.
Dr Ajayi Oluyemi, Deputy Director, FCT Secondary Education Board said the programme would impact on the lives of young adults.
According to him, the programme, among the core areas, highlights character which is important in making progress in life.
NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA