A Non-Governmental Organisation, the Hannis Institute for Development Studies (HIDS) has proposed to organise a fellowship programme for secondary school students in rural communities of Kwara State, Nigeria.
The announcement was made in a statement signed by Mr Lawal Olohungbebe, HIDS Director on Tuesday, August 25, stating that the fellowship programme is scheduled to hold between October 28 and November 11.
Tagged, “Countryside Emerging Leadership Fellowship (CELF)”, the programme is expected to last for two weeks, and will consequently become an annual event.
According to Olohungbebe, outstanding secondary school students, randomly selected across all the sixteen local government areas of Kwara State, are the target for the programme which features mentorship, self-development, community development and entrepreneurship trainings.
The renowned community development practitioner said, “the initiative, among other objectives, is to open the Fellows’ minds to possibilities and prospects in the State and beyond, and to instill in them the culture of giving back to their communities; thereby bridging the opportunity gaps among the youths in rural areas and their counterparts in the urban centres.”
Olohungbebe added that through the CELF, further educational pursuit among secondary school students in the rural areas will be encouraged as adaptable knowledge will be provided to all the Fellows irrespective of their socioeconomic backgrounds and religions.
He called on individuals, corporate bodies as well as the government to support the initiative in order to make it more sustainable, noting that, “each fellow will be empowered to empower others in their various communities across the State.”
Members of the public are to visit www.celf.com.org for partnership and sponsorship details.
