PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

U.S. Mission Supports First Regional Kairos Youth Leadership Training Program In Maiduguri

Date: June 9 - 11, 2008
Venue: Maiduguri

Participants at North East Kairos Leadership Conference in Kano | Full size

About forty youths selected from tertiary institutions in six states of the North East geopolitical region have concluded a three-day youth leadership training program at the University of Maiduguri.  The training program which was under the auspices of the Kairos Youth Leadership Training Institute, and anchor by two Fulbright scholars had funding support from the United States Mission in Nigeria. 

This first regional based program which ran between Monday, June 9 and Wednesday, June 11, 2008 had four broad objectives, to identify and equip the youths for maximum effectiveness in a 21st century Nigeria, offer students the basic understanding of groups and pressure groups by offering essential skills for conflict management and inert-personal and group contact, to seek to challenge participants to really examine the impact of cultural background on group cohesiveness and effectiveness, and to position the participating youths for effectiveness in the 21st century global market and their place in it. 

United States Embassy’s Counselor for Public Affairs, Atim Eneida George who spoke at the opening session, explained that supporting the Kairos Youth Leadership Training program is in line with the U.S. Mission policy of investing in people, adding that other Mission policy areas include promoting peace and security, supporting governing justly and democratically, and facilitating economic growth and trade.   She said Nigeria is one of the most important countries that the United States partners with, and urged the participants to develop skills that would help them as advocates and change agents in their communities.  Ms George noted that to spearhead effectively and advocate for change, participants must equip themselves by researching into issues and question authority, pointing out that it is vital for the growth of democracy for citizens to question authority. 

Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Professor Mala Daura expressed gratitude to the U.S. Mission for partnering with the university in addressing what he described as “one of the challenging issues facing this nation, that is preparing youths to face the current challenges for purposeful leadership.”  The Vice Chancellor said going by the success of the first Kairos National Youth Leadership Training, the Maiduguri regional program would produce youth leaders who would positively contribute to the evolution of a politically stable and economically vibrant Nigeria. 

By Wednesday, June 11, having gone through several sessions that addressed issues like strategic planning and thinking, personal and business ethics, leading your life, cultism and drug addiction, the participants were charged and ready to go.  Several had already conceived of projects, from community mobilization to addressing sanitation concerns, which they intend to implement on their campuses and in their communities.  Their spokesperson, Alkali Adamu Askira from the University of Maiduguri expressed appreciation and gratitude to the American people for providing funding to support both the national and regional Kairos programs. 

The program which was coordinated by two Fulbright scholars - Dr. Daniel Gwary of the Department of Crops Sciences and Dr. Mohammed Ajiri of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies had three resource persons – Professor Emeka Okoli, initiator of the first Kairos program in August 2007, Dr. Mairo Amshi, an academician and two time commissioner in Yobe State and Professor Mary Fajonyomi, a Counselor at the Faculty of Education.