Abuja: No fewer than 300 youths are set to benefit from leadership and entrepreneurial training through the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) 2025, organised by Rotary International. District Governor of District 9127, Dame Joy Okoro, announced this at the opening ceremony of the training on Monday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the annual programme is one of the key tenets of Rotary International, with the theme for the 2025 edition being ‘Passion, Action, Reaction.’ Participants will engage in a five-day camp where they will learn various skills such as shoe and bag making, photography, and creating disposable sanitary wares. The objective is to empower youths to start their own ventures instead of seeking unavailable white-collar jobs.
Okoro emphasized the academy’s aim to train youths to be useful to themselves and society. She cited a success story of a former participant who became a cobbler and now serves as a facilitator.
Mrs Olajumoke Ekeinde, Chair for RYLA 2025, described the programme as transformational, with ongoing efforts to impact youths across districts. She explained that participants are selected from adopted communities by Rotary clubs, ensuring an inclusive package for youths aged 15 to 30, including those with special needs.
Dr Othman Abdulrasheed, delivering the keynote address titled ‘From Passion to Impact,’ encouraged participants to adopt a mindset of persistence and resilience. He stressed the importance of positive self-talk and identifying personal passions.
Dr Bab Abdul, in his presentation on ‘Unlocking Youth Potential: Enhancing Emotional Intelligence and Resilience,’ advised participants to focus on opportunities and resist despondency. He outlined five logical changes to achieve goals: environment, attitude, skills, beliefs, and identity.
RYLA 2025, organized by Rotary District 9127, is a week-long programme spanning 16 states and the FCT. It aims to train participants in digital content creation, decoration and event planning, confectionery, and other vocational skills.
