A Civic Engagement Activity by Omoaholo Omoakhalen, 2023 EPLF Cohort Fellow
In alignment with the Fellowship’s resolute commitment to championing Civic Engagement, and with indispensable backing from LEAP Africa and the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, Omoaholo Omoakhalen, an esteemed Fellow of the 2023 EPLF Cohort, orchestrated a meticulously crafted Civic Engagement Initiative under the theme ‘The Emerging Political Leader.’ This remarkable event took place on Saturday, September 23, 2023, with Certificates of Participation thoughtfully dispatched to all participants on Tuesday, September 26, 2023. Furthermore, the compilation of photo and video montages reached its conclusion on Friday, September 29, 2023. As of September 23, a total of 56 individuals had successfully registered for the event, diligently submitting their data through our registration form. It is worth noting that the event witnessed the presence of 30 dedicated attendees.
The objectives of the activity encompassed the following:
-To expose emerging political leaders to the essential principles of visionary political leadership within a comprehensive understanding of power dynamics.
-To challenge political leaders with fresh and innovative viewpoints on leadership, aligning them with the evolving local and global trends in the political landscape.
-To bridge the generational gaps in leadership perspectives, fostering a more cohesive and informed leadership community.
The final goal was to reignite the spirit of political engagement within our community by equipping its members with the tools and knowledge necessary for effective participation and leadership.
Key Outcomes
On Saturday, September 23, 2023, The Citadel in Oregun, Lagos, played host to an enlightening Masterclass focused on ‘The Emerging Political Leader.’ This event marked a collaborative effort between the non-partisan political community known as the Mountain of Politics and the Government of the Citadel Global Church. Distinguished politicians and political stakeholders hailing from diverse backgrounds, including various political parties, youth leadership organizations, the Christian community, and the Muslim community, graced the occasion with their presence. The day’s program unfolded as follows:
- The First Masterclass – “The Emerging Political Leader”: This session delved into the intricacies of Power Dynamics and Political Alliances.
- The Second Masterclass – “Emerging Disruptions in 21st Century Political Leadership”: Presented by Omoaholo Omoakhalen, an EPLF Fellow, this session offered unique insights into the challenges and innovations within contemporary political leadership.
A total of 30 eager participants were in attendance, reflecting a diverse mix of ages and genders.
The masterclasses were skillfully facilitated by Omoaholo, drawing inspiration from EPLF virtual sessions conducted by the Founder of The Bridge Leadership Foundation, Senator Liyel Imoke, and EPLF Faculty Member, Associate Professor Tunde Oseni. Additionally, Omoaholo’s presentations incorporated his responses to EPLF Case Study assignments and insights gained from his role as a Research and Policy Assistant to former Presidential Aspirant, Dr. Tunde Bakare.
The crux of Omoaholo’s presentations revolved around equipping participants with a robust toolbox for agenda setting. This included a comprehensive understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (as expounded in EPLF’s Virtual Session on SDGs and the Nigerian Context by Mrs. Abiodun Baiyewu) and the Principal’s 4-Pillar Model of Good Governance, a framework he contributed to creating.
For those interested in accessing the presentation materials, the slide decks are available through this link: Presentation Slide Decks.
The event also featured an engaging panel discussion and interactive sessions. Panellists included Mr Ayodeji Omotosho, the 2021 Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Office of the Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area, Ikeja, Lagos State, and Mr Babajide Bakare, the 2023 Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for Lagos State House of Assembly, Kosofe Constituency 2.
Omoaholo took on the role of moderator, guiding the panellists as they shared their political journeys as candidates and analyzed their experiences in building political alliances using models developed from EPLF Modules on Stakeholders, Party Politics, and the Candidate Selection Process. The discussion also delved into the concept of the “Five Gods of Nigerian Politics,” a framework taught by EPLF Faculty, Dr. Otive Igbuzor and attributed to Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Interactive sessions allowed participants to express their perspectives on crucial themes such as gender inclusion, youth inclusion, and the role of religious communities in fostering value-based politics.
Lessons Learnt and Recommendations
Post-Event Survey and Participant Insights
The post-event survey conducted on menti.com has yielded valuable ratings and reviews. Additionally, participants shared their key takeaways through comments on menti.com, offering deeper insights into their perspectives:
- “My main takeaway is the realization that politics requires far more effort than we might have initially thought. The time for proactive engagement is now. Political power won’t be handed to us; we must actively seize it.”
- “There’s a pressing need to enhance voter awareness, and as a budding political leader, raising sufficient funds is paramount.”
- “Understanding the ever-evolving dynamics of social media’s role in contemporary politics and the significance of forging political alliances.”
To access the post-event survey results and participant comments, please visit the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1SOArb3SE8Rfeh5BTj18jqW8o9d0euqjf?usp=drive_link
Next Steps
In his capacity as an EPLF Fellow, Omoaholo is committed to offering continued capacity building and consultation to the diverse stakeholder groups that were represented at the Masterclass. His aim is to empower their members as they embark on their individual political journeys. Furthermore, Omoaholo will generously share his wealth of knowledge with forthcoming cohorts of the EPLF when the opportunity arises. He also plans to leverage the insights gained from his EPLF experience to enhance the various institutions dedicated to political and governance capacity-building that he is affiliated with. By the year 2024, he envisions using digital tools and the valuable lessons acquired through EPLF to scale up his own initiative, “Imagine Nigeria 2050.”
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