Abuja: The Maxwell Leadership Foundation has launched the iLead Nigeria Student Transformation Training and Workshop in Northern Nigeria to promote core values and foster leadership skills among students. Mr. Samuel Gbenga, iLead Nigeria Programme Manager, stated in Abuja that the programme, themed ‘Driving Transformation Through Leadership and Character’, aims to enhance students’ leadership capabilities, values, attitudes, and social skills.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Gbenga explained that the initiative seeks to help students, young leaders, and the next generation of leaders learn and internalise values that will shape them into better individuals. “Values are the foundation of good leadership,” he said. He further noted that iLead is a values-based youth leadership programme inspired by Dr. John Maxwell. “We believe that, to prepare the next generation, schools must be equipped and willing to help students embrace the right values.”
Gbenga highlighted that studies show investing in students’ leadership skills fosters cognitive growth by developing attitudes and values that also enhance their academic performance. “Through iLead’s values-based peer-to-peer groups, we can mentor tomorrow’s leaders and provide them with a foundation for success now and in the future,” he added.
The iLead curriculum, known as ‘iChoose + iDo’, focuses on core values such as choices, attitudes, relationships, forgiveness, and responsibility. Other values include initiative, teachability, resilience, growth, commitment, character, self-worth, courage, priorities, self-discipline, and influence. Gbenga emphasised that choices are a gift and that life is a reflection of the decisions one makes. “The benefits of choice include having freedom, control over your life, the ability to improve your circumstances, and the potential to reach your goals,” he said.
He identified the primary outcome of the programme as transforming students’ lives by equipping them to make better choices, improve academic performance, and develop strong character. “We want to see students saying that, because of these values, they are making better life choices, excelling academically, and building better character. iLead is a global programme operating across continents, and over five million students have benefited from it,” Gbenga said.
Mrs. Mute Olori, Convener of iLead, described it as a peer-to-peer mentoring initiative. She explained that the programme involves training teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other northern states, who will, in turn, pass on the training to students. This cascading model, she said, is expected to impact no fewer than 1.3 million youths in secondary schools. “This programme provides a significant opportunity to shape the nation’s future. Young people are often told what to do, but this initiative enables students to discover values within themselves. They will hold themselves accountable and take responsibility for their actions,” Olori said.
Dr. Ajayi Oluyemi, Deputy Director of the FCT Secondary Education Board, praised the programme for its potential to positively influence young adults. He noted that its focus on character development is critical for achieving meaningful progress in life.