As part of the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship (EPLF) civic engagement requirement, Aliyu Dada, successfully organized a one-day Virtual Leadership Retreat themed “Building Community Champions: A Leadership Retreat.”
The retreat aimed to strengthen the leadership capacity of young changemakers by equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and collaborative mindset necessary to drive sustainable development within their communities. The event brought together 50 participants, comprising 30 young leaders from the Mallam Zaki Fellowship and 20 members of the Katagum Youth League, representing diverse community development interests across Bauchi State.
The session was facilitated by Muhammad Muhammad Gamawa and myself, with a focus on building participants’ understanding of community leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork. The retreat served as a platform for peer learning, mentorship, and cross-network collaboration among young leaders committed to civic transformation.
Objectives of the Retreat
The main objectives of the retreat were to:
- Develop participants’ leadership and civic engagement competencies.
- Foster collaboration and network-building among youth-led organizations.
- Promote the ideals of inclusivity, accountability, and shared responsibility in community leadership.
- Inspire participants to initiate local actions that contribute to good governance and social development.
Programme Overview
The retreat was conducted virtually to ensure accessibility for participants across multiple locations. The sessions featured:
Opening remarks and introductions
- Interactive leadership workshops focused on empathy, teamwork, and value-based leadership
- Breakout group discussions where participants analyzed local governance challenges and proposed practical solutions
- Experience-sharing sessions that allowed participants to draw inspiration from each other’s community service experiences
- Action planning session, where participants outlined personal and group commitments to replicate the training in their local communities
- These structured activities created an environment of collaboration, learning, and motivation, enabling participants to connect leadership theory with real-world application.
Key Outcomes
The retreat produced several significant outcomes:
Enhanced understanding of leadership principles: Participants deepened their appreciation for inclusive and servant leadership as vital tools for community transformation.
Strengthened collaboration: The platform fostered synergy between the Mallam Zaki Fellowship and the Katagum Youth League, leading to plans for future joint projects.
Increased civic awareness: Participants gained practical insights into how local challenges such as unemployment, poor education, and governance gaps can be addressed through citizen-led initiatives.
Network expansion: The event strengthened cross-community connections, helping young leaders access new partnerships and mentorship opportunities.
Overall, the retreat reinforced the belief that collective leadership and shared responsibility are essential to addressing community challenges.
Lessons Learnt
The experience revealed key lessons that will shape future engagements:
Inclusivity is vital: Diverse representation enriches dialogue and ensures that solutions address the needs of all community segments.
Empathy drives connection: Understanding others’ realities strengthens leaders’ capacity to design people-centered interventions.
Collaboration multiplies impact: When young leaders work together, they create broader and more sustainable change.
Leadership is about empowerment: True leadership involves inspiring others to take action and become changemakers in their own right.
Next Steps and Sustainability Plan
To ensure continuity and impact, each of the 50 participants has committed to drip down the knowledge and skills acquired during the retreat to at least two young leaders within their local communities.
This cascade model is expected to reach a minimum of 100 additional young leaders, thereby amplifying the retreat’s impact and fostering a wider network of informed, active, and responsible citizens.
Follow-up activities, including mentorship check-ins and progress monitoring, will be conducted to ensure participants implement their community action plans effectively.
Conclusion
The “Building Community Champions” Virtual Leadership Retreat was a resounding success that strengthened youth leadership capacity, deepened collaboration, and inspired participants to champion positive change within their communities.
The initiative aligns with the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship’s mission of nurturing principled, visionary, and community-driven leaders who are equipped to transform governance and civic participation across Nigeria.
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