The Bridge Leadership Foundation, established in 2022 by former Governor Liyel Imoke to identify, equip, and empower visionary young Nigerians committed to transforming the country’s landscape, has said it has kick-started training for its fourth cohorts of emerging political leaders.
A release signed by its acting executive director, Oluwafunmilola Ojo, and made available to our reporter in Calabar, Monday, said “The Bridge Leadership Foundation is proud to announce the successful onboarding of 25 exceptional individuals into the fourth cohort of the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship (EPLF) programme.
“This year’s selection process was highly competitive, attracting over 900 applications from across the country. Following a thorough review and interview process, 25 outstanding candidates were selected.
“The volume and quality of applications received made the final selection particularly challenging, as many impressive applicants had to be left out due to the limited number of available slots.”
The statement, which described the selection as “rigorous,” said it was to ensure that only the most dedicated and passionate emerging leaders were chosen to participate in the programme.
It explained that the non-partisan initiative is designed to build the capacity of young leaders to engage in governance and public service
“It offers fellows a rich learning experience, beginning with a structured virtual training phase that will cover critical themes such as leadership, governance, political strategy, public policy, and civic engagement.
“These sessions will be delivered by a distinguished faculty of thought leaders, past and current serving politicians, and policymakers.
“Following the virtual phase, fellows will converge in Abuja for a transformative in-person Boot Camp. The Boot Camp will feature high-impact engagements, institutional visits, mentorship opportunities, and the presentation of capstone projects to a seasoned panel of reviewers.
“This hands-on experience is crafted to foster collaboration, deepen knowledge, and inspire innovative solutions to Nigeria’s most pressing political and governance challenges,” it stated.