Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, CFR, Founder of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI) and Chief of Staff to the President, has officially declared the fifth cohort of the LMI open, reaffirming his commitment to preparing young Nigerians for meaningful participation in public leadership and governance.
The Opening Ceremony, held at the institutional home of LMI, the Secretariat of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL) in Abuja, brought together government officials, institutional partners, development partners, members of the LMI management team and the 50 newly selected Fellows-in-Training to mark another milestone in the Initiative's growing contribution to youth leadership development in Nigeria.
The fifth cohort was selected from over 7,000 applications, reflecting the growing interest among young Nigerians in opportunities for leadership development, mentorship and practical exposure to public institutions. When the call for applications was made in October, 25,000 young people commenced the application process.
Founded in 2022 by Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, CFR, while he served as Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, LMI was established as an apolitical youth leadership training boot camp, based on his conviction that the next generation of Nigeria’s leadership should be prepared through deliberate investment in young people, providing them with the knowledge, guidance, exposure and opportunities required to contribute meaningfully to public service.
Speaking at the ceremony, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila reflected on the vision behind the Initiative, noting that its establishment was informed by the need to create pathways for capable young Nigerians to access training opportunities for placements that will build their capacity to participate optimally in the public institutions where decisions are made.
He observed that many young Nigerians possess the talent, ideas and commitment required for public service but often lack the training, access and guidance needed to translate their potential into meaningful contributions.
"Waiting is not a strategy, preparation is," the Founder said, recalling the conviction that informed the establishment of LMI in 2022.
He noted that over the past 5 years, the LMI has grown beyond a fellowship programme into a community of 218 emerging leaders committed to public service, with more than 80 Fellows currently serving across the Presidency, National Assembly, CoSPAL Secretariat, ministries, departments and agencies, state legislatures and now also in other African countries through the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps.
Emphasising that the true measure of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI) lies in the contributions of its Fellows to governance and nation building, he urged the new cohort to make the best of the LMI opportunity, apply their learning to practical challenges and uphold integrity in every opportunity entrusted to them.
In his opening address, Amb. ’Dapo Oyewole, Secretary-General of CoSPAL and Chairman of the LMI Planning and Advisory Committee, described the commencement of the fifth cohort as a significant milestone in the development and institutional growth of the Initiative.
He thanked and applauded the Founder Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for conceptualising and sustaining a vision that unleashes young extraordinary people's capacity to contribute to national development when given the necessary preparation, opportunities and institutional support.
"That LMI, five years later, is stronger, bigger and more impactful than when it began is cause for celebration and we have Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas PhD. GCON, and all our partners to thank," Oyewole said.
With LMI now institutionalised as the flagship youth leadership development programme of CoSPAL, he reaffirmed CoSPAL's commitment to supporting the Initiative through three key priorities: providing institutional platforms where Fellows can undertake meaningful public service; strengthening LMI's institutional foundations, standards and financial sustainability; and expanding partnerships to ensure the Initiative's continued growth and impact.
Oyewole further emphasised the importance of connecting leadership development with practical opportunities, noting that “training must translate into impactful participation and meaningful service.”
The opening ceremony also recognised the contributions of the institutions and partners supporting the Initiative's continued development.
Among them are the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the National Assembly Library Trust Fund (NALTF), the Leadership Advancement Foundation, Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC), TAF Africa, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, and Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, among others.
The Founder acknowledged the contributions of Amb. ’Dapo Oyewole, Chair of the LMI Planning and Advisory Committee, Hon. Henry Nwawuba, Executive Secretary of NALTF and Chairman of the LMI Selection Committee, Mrs. Solape Sonuga, Director of LMI, and the wider management and operations team for their roles in sustaining the Initiative. He specifically singled out Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas for his leadership and for sustaining the LMI and its fellows in the joint task of nation building.
The ceremony also featured an opening charge by Amb. Jake Epelle, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of TAF Africa, the announcement of the selected Fellows by Hon. Henry Nwawuba, and an expression of appreciation and commitment to LMI values by a representative of the fifth cohort.
Declaring the fifth cohort open, Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the LMI and called on institutional partners, the private sector and well-meaning Nigerians to deepen their investment in youth leadership development through mentorship, placements and financial support.
He urged the new Fellows to recognise that the opportunities provided by LMI come with corresponding responsibilities to serve with integrity, contribute to national development and extend opportunities to others.
The fifth cohort marks another step in LMI's continued efforts to build a network of prepared, ethical and service-oriented young leaders equipped to contribute to Nigeria's democratic and development aspirations.
As the new Fellows begin their leadership training journey under the leadership of LMI Chairman Amb. Dapo Oyewole, the LMI remains guided by its founding conviction that the future of leadership depends not simply on identifying talented young people, but on preparing them, opening doors for them and providing the opportunities to serve. “This is how we improve the quality of governance and shape a better future for Nigeria and indeed for Africa”, Gbajabiamila stated.
