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Leadership development: Centre trains 2,687 Nigerians
The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), says it has trained 2,687 Nigerians in multiple locations across the country for strategic leadership and sustainable development.
The Executive Director, Centre LSD, Monday Osasah, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja, during a news conference to mark the center’s 15th anniversary.
Osasah, said the anniversary was a moment of reflection on the Centre’s journey, recognition of its achievements and a renewal of commitment to the vision of an African society.
He said that the Centre was establish to address three critical challenges constraining Africa’s progress, adding that these include the absence of dynamic, strategic, and visionary leadership.
He also said that it include the prevalence of inappropriate strategies that fail to address societal needs, as well as the adoption of development approaches that lack sustainability and inclusivity.
According to him, since its inception in January 2010, Centre LSD has pursued its mission of working with forces of positive change to empower citizens to transform society.
Osasah also said that over the past 15 years, the Centre’s unwavering belief in the transformative power of leadership had equipped individuals with the tools and knowledge for visionary leadership to transform the society.
”Established in 2009 and formally transferred to Centre LSD in 2010, the Centre LSD Leadership School has trained 2,687 students across multiple locations in Nigeria, including Abuja, Warri, Benin, Port Harcourt, Abakaliki, and Jos.
”Students from countries like Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, and Niger have benefited.
“The centre trained over 165 individuals in Strategic Management, certified by the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (ISMNC),” he disclosed.
The executive director also said that students of the Centre have moved on to impact their societies forming Alumni associations, leading community development initiatives, influencing policies, and driving societal change across Africa.
He added that the Centre prioritised strategic capacity building to ensure individuals and institutions have the tools to design and implement effective strategies and contribute to major national and regional strategies.
He added that the Centre advocated for women’s rights, abolishing harmful practices like the “money woman” tradition in Cross River State.
Osasah further disclosed that Centre LSD established the network of men leaders to end violence against women and increased youth and women participation in governance, particularly in the Niger Delta states.
He said the Centre also advocated for local government autonomy and supported campaigns to preserve civic spaces in Nigeria as well as promote education through projects like “Educate A Child” and “Community-Led Collective Action for Girls Education” to increase enrolment.
”The Centre also led advocacy for environmental sustainability, including the cleanup of Ogoni land and influencing environmental policies.
”It facilitated sanitation infrastructure to eradicate open defecation in communities like Durumi 3 and Ruwan Fulani in AMAC, and Kuyizhi in Kuje Area Council.
”Our Community-Led Total Sanitation intervention in communities in AMAC and Kuje area councils transformed communities into Open Defecation Free (ODF) zones, improving hygiene and health outcomes.
”The Centre facilitated the Enhanced agricultural practices and economic resilience through projects like “Feed the Future” in Kebbi State, Provided cash transfers, vocational training, and livelihood support, and uplifting several families in northern Nigeria from poverty.
”It also influenced the adoption of Open Government Partnership (OGP) principles in 25 Nigerian states,” he said.
Osasah further said that the Centre LSD would not rest on its oars, but continue to expanding its leadership school across Africa, with specialised programmes tailored for youth, women, and marginalised communities.
He added that it launched advanced digital tools, such as the Hostcommunities.ng app, to bridge gaps between communities and stakeholders to ensure accountability and transparency
He called on all stakeholders to join in building an Africa where leadership drives progress, policies empower people, and communities thrive in dignity and equity.
”Together, let us amplify the voices of the unheard, strengthen the foundations of justice, and create a legacy of sustainable development,” he added.
(NAN)
Gunmen have abducted some female students of Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University in Makurdi, Benue state.
The students, reportedly numbering up to four, were abducted on Tuesday evening at the university’s North Core campus.
The students were said to have been headed for “night class”, a practice of late-night studying in Nigerian campuses.
The gunmen were said to have invaded the hotel area of the campus before abducting the four students.
Some moments after the incident, operatives of the Nigerian army arrived at the school.
Sewuese Anene, Benue police spokesperson, told TheCable on Wednesday that a report received by the police indicated that only two students were kidnapped during the incident.
Anene added that the police have launched an investigation into the matter.
The Markurdi incident is the latest in a series of abductions targeted at Nigeria’s tertiary school students in recent years.
In August 2024, at least 20 medical and dental students were kidnapped in Benue State while travelling to a convention in Enugu.
In September 2023, gunmen abducted approximately 20 students from a university in Zamfara state.
At Greenfield University in Kaduna State, at least 20 students and two staff members were kidnapped in April 2021.
Tragically, five students were killed during captivity before the remaining hostages were released after a month.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square, on charges of laundering ₦1.38billion, $ 1 million and £34,537.59.
Jude was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a seven-count charge
One of the counts read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another count read: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did indirectly using bureau de change convert the sum of $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and six-two dollars eighty-seven cents), domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by Northside Music Lid to the naira equivalent and remitted into various bank accounts with the intention of concealing that the said fund form part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Larry Peters Aso, applied for a date for hearing as well as for the remand of the defendant in the correctional facility pending trial.
The defendant’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court of a pending bail application. He asked for a short date for the hearing. Effiong also asked that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing of the application.
Aso objected to the request for the defendant to be remanded in the EFCC custody. He argued that the EFCC custody was already congested with suspects awaiting arraignment. He urged the court to remand the defendant to the correctional facility since he had taken his plea.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the matter till February 28 for bail hearing and April 14 for trial.
He also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Kogi-born political activist and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Austin Okai, in Abuja.
The arrest, which took place on Wednesday morning, was reportedly carried out on the directive of Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Video footage obtained by Elanza shows heavily armed security operatives storming Okai’s residence in the Federal Capital Territory before taking him away.
While no official reason has been given for his arrest, sources suggest it may be connected to his outspoken criticism of the Kogi State government.
Okai, a well-known opposition figure, has frequently condemned the administration’s policies and governance.
His wife, speaking to reporters, claimed that the DSS operatives did not present an arrest warrant before detaining him.
“They came to arrest him at our home in Abuja without a warrant,” she said.
“They ransacked our house, forced their way inside, and took him away. I asked for a warrant, but they had none.”
She further alleged that Okai’s personal gadgets were confiscated during the operation.
As of the time of this report, the DSS has not issued any official statement regarding Okai’s detention.