Lagos State Govern-ment, through the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment (Lagos Global), last Thursday played hosts to a group of young Nigerians, who have just been handpicked as part of the United State’s commitment to invest in the future of Africa through leadership training and development.
The six participants selected in Lagos State, out of the 100 in Nigeria, for the Mandela Washington Fellowship – a flagship programme of the President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), are Adebola Williams, Ebunoluwa Farinde, Fadekunayo Adeniyi, Olumide Lawal, Oluwabusola Majekodunmi and Orondaam Otto.
Speaking at the meeting held at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Professor Ademola Abass, Special Adviser, Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, appreciated the laudable feats achieved by the participants and for making Lagos State proud in the role they played in strengthening democratic institutions, spurring economic growth and enhancing peace and security within their community.
The Special Adviser, who was represented by Dr. Yakub Olajide Basorun, Permanent Secretary, Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment, stated that the purpose of the meeting is to find out about their various projects and how the state government can collaborate with them to facilitate better innovation and necessary assistance in their chosen endeavours.
The participants, during the fellowship, will engage in six weeks in-depth academic and leadership training at top American universities across three tracks – business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, public management and a specialised Energy institute. Afterwards the participants will converge in Washington D.C. for a Presidential summit, featuring a town hall with President Obama.