About LEAD Fellowship

Building the Next Generation of Nigerian Leaders

The LEAD Fellowship is a nationally coordinated leadership programme designed to equip young Nigerians across tertiary institutions with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience required to become effective leaders and changemakers.

The Fellowship is built around the belief that sustainable national transformation requires a new generation of leaders who understand governance, engage with policy processes, and are prepared to contribute meaningfully to institutional and societal development.

Through a blend of leadership development, civic education, policy innovation, and technology-driven learning, LEAD creates a pipeline of young leaders who are ready to influence positive change.

Young Nigerian leaders collaborating around a laptop
Empowering
Young Leaders
Strengthening
Governance
Promoting
Safe Communities
Building a Better
Nigeria

Our Purpose

LEAD exists to transform students with leadership potential into future leaders who can contribute to governance, policy, and institutional reform.

The Fellowship provides participants with the tools to understand systems, challenge existing structures, develop solutions, and translate ideas into action within real-world governance spaces.

Our Vision

A governance system strengthened by young, innovative, and ethical leaders committed to driving transformational change.

Our Mission

To build a continuous Fellowship movement that develops young Nigerians with leadership potential into impactful leaders in mainstream governance and civic spaces.

LEAD Fellowship & Technology for Safer Communities

LEAD is intentionally connected to Gender Mobile Initiative's broader ecosystem of innovation, including the CampusPal app, an anonymous reporting platform designed to strengthen safety and accountability within tertiary institutions.

Through the Fellowship, CampusPal serves as more than a reporting tool. It is integrated into the learning experience as an example of how technology can support civic participation, institutional accountability, and safer communities.

Fellows engage with CampusPal's Virtual Learning Lab, participate in digital learning activities, and connect with peers through a moderated community space that encourages collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and collective problem-solving.

What Fellows Gain

The LEAD Fellowship equips participants to:

  • Understand governance systems and political processes
  • Analyze power structures and institutional dynamics
  • Develop evidence-based policy solutions
  • Lead with integrity, inclusion, and accountability
  • Translate ideas into practical actions
  • Engage effectively within civic and policy spaces

LEAD goes beyond leadership theory by combining learning with hands-on application, ensuring Fellows are prepared to lead in meaningful ways.

Fellowship Structure

The LEAD Fellowship is delivered through three key phases:

  1. 1
    Phase One: Virtual Learning Lab (10 Weeks)

    Fellows participate in an intensive online learning experience focused on building foundational leadership and governance knowledge.

  2. 2
    Phase Two: Policy Lab & Innovation Challenge

    Fellows transition from learning to application by developing policy ideas that respond to real governance and equity challenges.

  3. 3
    Phase Three: National Finals & Institutional Exposure

    Finalists present their policy solutions to policymakers, institutional leaders, and development stakeholders.

Our Learning Approach

Learning by Doing

LEAD believes leadership is developed through practice, reflection, and engagement.

Fellows learn through:

  • Interactive learning sessions
  • Peer-to-peer collaboration
  • Real-world governance case studies
  • Practical leadership assignments
  • Policy writing and presentation exercises
  • Innovation and problem-solving activities

Our Values

LEAD is guided by the principles that:

Equity strengthens leadershipWe believe inclusive leadership creates stronger institutions and better outcomes.
Leadership can be developedGreat leaders are built through continuous learning, reflection, and action.
Ethical leadership mattersAccountability, integrity, and responsibility are essential to lasting change.
Collective action creates impactTransformation happens when people collaborate toward shared goals.

Institutional Alignment

The LEAD Fellowship supports national priorities around:

  • Youth civic engagement
  • Democratic participation
  • Gender inclusion
  • Responsible citizenship
  • Governance reform

By engaging tertiary students across Nigeria, LEAD strengthens young people's capacity to participate meaningfully in shaping the future of their institutions and communities.

Our Commitment to a Safe Learning Environment

LEAD is committed to creating a respectful, inclusive, and accountable space where every Fellow can learn and contribute.

All Fellows are expected to:

  • Respect diverse perspectives and experiences
  • Engage constructively with others
  • Practice accountability and responsibility
  • Promote inclusion and equity

LEAD does not tolerate:

  • Harassment or discrimination
  • Hate speech or bullying
  • Sexism, misogyny, or violence in any form

The Fellowship operates under Gender Mobile Initiative's Safeguarding and Anti-Harassment Policy, with confidential reporting channels available for concerns.

Participation Expectations

To successfully complete the Fellowship, Fellows are expected to:

Maintain a minimum
of 80% attendance
Communicate in advance
when unable to participate
Actively engage in learning
activities and Fellowship requirements

Ready to become a leader of change?

Join the LEAD Fellowship and be part of a movement shaping a better Nigeria.

Apply Now