By Emmanuel Yashim

The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership has graduated 13 participants from the first cohort of its Athena-Anchoria Junior Fellows Programme.

The six-month programme is designed to prepare young Nigerians for leadership and public policy roles, according to a statement by the Centre.

The fellows, drawn from 11 states across the six geopolitical zones, attended different universities and represented 11 academic disciplines.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, the Centre’s Founder and Chancellor, Mr Osita Chidoka, said the programme was established to develop the human capacity required to strengthen public institutions.

The fellows underwent six months of virtual learning and mentorship, supported by monthly stipends, followed by a one-week residential session.

Each graduate also received an HP laptop to support research and writing.

The programme, partly funded by Anchoria Group, combined training in public policy, governance, research and mentorship with sessions on financial literacy and investment.

Chidoka said building stronger institutions required deliberate investment in people capable of leading them.

“We cannot continue to demand better institutions without deliberately investing in the people who will lead them. Institutions do not build themselves. People build them,” he said.

He said the fellows were deliberately selected from diverse backgrounds to encourage national cohesion and understanding across ethnic and cultural differences.

According to him, each fellow wrote a civic essay inspired by the National Anthem’s line, “Though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand”.

The essays examine issues of belonging, equal citizenship, identity and nation-building.

Athena Press has published the 13 essays in a collection titled Though Tribe and Tongue May Differ: Young Nigerians on Belonging, Equal Citizenship and the Work of Nation-Building.

The publication is the first volume in an annual series, The Republic We Are Building.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, also received the fellows and spoke on the importance of acquiring skills abroad, returning to Nigeria and contributing to national development.

One of the fellows was also invited to participate in the forthcoming Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Ezekiel Adebisi, who emerged the Overall Best Fellow, delivered the valedictory address.

Adebisi said the fellows completed the programme with improved critical thinking skills and a deeper appreciation of their responsibility to contribute to national development.

“We came to learn how institutions shape nations. We leave committed to shaping institutions that serve nations,” he said.

The graduating fellows were Augustina Abakpa, Rashida Abubakar, Yahaya Abubakar, Ezekiel Adebisi, Afodun Saheed, Adaobi Ayogu, Kosisochukwu Bosah, Enegbuma and Angelica Onagiekhuwemhe.

Others were Haruna Suleiman, Mohammed Kale, Daniel Nnamani, Eunice Olasunkanmi and Shedrack Owen.

Chidoka urged the graduates to apply the knowledge acquired to strengthen the institutions and communities they would serve.

“Today, we celebrate what you have learnt. Tomorrow, Nigeria will judge what you do with it,” he said.

The Centre said the Junior Fellows Programme would continue with subsequent cohorts.

The statement was issued by Mr Paul Liam, the Centre’s Media and Communications Officer. (NAN)

Edited by Uche Anunne