Inauguration of the North East Youth Leadership and Community Development Fellowship

Introduction

CSJ with the support of the North East Regional Initiative (NERI) has commenced the implementation of the North East Youth Leadership and Community Development Fellowship Programme (NEYLCD). The Programme aims at:
·        Engaging 45 youths from communities in Borno and Yobe States and build their capacity on knowledge and skills for solving community-based problems fueling violent extremism in the Lake Chad Region.
·        To build a community of Youths between the range of 21 and 35 years using knowledge and skills to solve local problems in communities in the North East.  
The key proposed activities include training on leadership and communication; public policy making process in Nigeria; gender and social inclusion; peace and security; social entrepreneurship and innovation; as well as critical thinking. NEWLCD will also involve book clubs and mentoring the Fellows in community development activities.

This newsletter documents the inaugural activities and the leadership and communication training.
 

Inauguration of the North East Youth Leadership and Community Development Fellowship

Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) with support from the North East Regional Initiative (NERI) inaugurated the 2019 North East Youth Leadership and Community Development Fellowship, NEYLCD on 1^st and 2^nd July 2019 in Maiduguri, Borno State. The NEYLCD is made up of 45 Fellows selected from Borno and Yobe States who will be trained and supported to act as agents of positive change that will counter violent extremism in the North East of Nigeria. During the inauguration, the Director of the National Orientation Agency in Borno State urged the Fellows to imbibe leadership and community development skills by active participation in governance and offering volunteer services. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Youth Empowerment in Borno State advised the Fellows to step down the knowledge gained from the Fellowship to other youths in their respective communities. The Managing Director of the North East Development Commission noted that 2 million persons have been displaced in the North-East and 30,000 deaths recorded, while properties worth billions of naira has been damaged as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency. The Fellows shared personal experiences on how violent extremism has affected their communities and they were issued with inaugural certificates and working IPADs.

Training of the North East Youth Leadership and Community Development Fellows

Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) with support from the North East Regional Initiative (NERI) trained the 45 North East Youth Leadership and Community Development Fellows on the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th of July 2019 in Maiduguri. Barr Eze Onyekpere trained the Fellows on the language of leadership and he drilled them on courage, clear thinking, character, crisis, enthusiasm, planning, etc. Dr. Uzochukwu Amakom trained the Fellows on soft skills and the concept of leadership. He trained them on leadership theories, how good leaders emerge, effectiveness of leadership, characteristics of good and bad leadership, etc. Mr. Emeka Iheme trained the Fellows on change management and control, as well as survival and succession planning. He drilled them on the models of succession planning, purpose and benefits of control, as well as requirements for a successful change management. Mr. Martins Eke trained the Fellows on leadership and empowerment. He drilled them on the aims and types of empowerment, mentoring and handholding, the relationship between empowering leadership and team performance, human rights and empowerment, etc. Miss Chabiyada Eli trained the Fellows on community development. She drilled them on the A-Z of community development. The training of the Fellows ended successfully and all the Fellows were energized to offer leadership and community development in the North East.