From:Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
GEM Business School in Abuja has graduated its first group of the GEM Impact Fellowship Program and announced a new partnership with the Kaduna State Ministry of Youth Development to broaden project management training.
Yusuf Ishaku Goje, the Training Coordinator at GEM Business School, Abuja, made this statement in Kaduna today.
Goje explained that the fellowship is a leadership program aimed at equipping emerging and mid-level professionals with practical workplace skills, strategic thinking, and networking opportunities to create positive impacts across Africa.
The initial cohort, as he stated, focused on Applied Project Management and ran for 4 weeks, with self-paced online modules on a mobile-friendly LMS, virtual instructor-led sessions, quizzes, and a capstone project. The program was supported by GEM College of International Business in Australia.
At the graduation ceremony in Kaduna, Dr. Clement Kuliyak, a faculty member at GEM Business School, described the event as a celebration of leadership, dedication, and potential impact.
“The abundance of resources rarely determines prosperity; it is determined by the quality of management applied to those resources,” said Dr. Kuliyak. He emphasized that Nigeria and Africa are richly endowed with opportunities, from natural resources to a vibrant entrepreneurial population.
“Our challenge is not the absence of opportunity. Our challenge is the effective management of the opportunities we already possess,” added Dr. Kuliyak.
He highlighted that project management is a vital nation-building skill and a link between vision and results, urging fellows to turn their skills into action. “The skills you have gained here must now be translated into action, into projects that work, systems that deliver, and solutions that improve lives.”
On behalf of the graduating class, Fellowship Representative Sumayya Abdullahi Hussaini described the program as transformative. She noted that fellows were trusted to plan and execute the graduation ceremony as part of their capstone project.
“Today, this event stands as proof of what young people can achieve when given the opportunity, guidance, and trust to lead,” Hussaini stated.
She expressed gratitude to GEM Business School and the facilitators for their dedication and leadership, and acknowledged the Ministry of Youth for its partnership and presence. “To my fellow graduates, this is just the beginning. The real work starts now. Let us go out and make an impact, uphold excellence, and embody everything we have learned here,” she added.
The Applied Project Management track featured facilitators from across Africa and beyond. Mr. Ben Dankaka, CEO of GEM Business School, led sessions on defining project management and its processes.
Mr. Momodou Inkeh Bah from The Gambia focused on team selection and development, while Ms. Tabu Margaret Cons from South Sudan discussed the benefits and challenges of project management.
Other facilitators included Ms. Nnenna Uneke, who taught vision and project planning; Dr. Clement Kuliyak, who explained how to organize projects into clear frameworks; and Mr. Ephraim Audu, who covered grant acquisition and stakeholder engagement. Participants expressed that they were impressed with the training and planned to apply their new knowledge to improve project management within their organizations. All capstone projects are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Ministry of Youth praised the graduates and expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with GEM Business School. According to the ministry, the presentations demonstrated the graduates’ competence to represent GEM. The ministry emphasized the importance of involving the graduates in future growth initiatives and encouraged presenters to consider the target audience and age groups for their projects.
In a major next step, the ministry announced a partnership with GEM to commemorate World Skills Day in Kaduna. It also requested GEM to provide project management training for youth within the ministry, especially for technical staff.
To maintain momentum, GEM Business School faculty will review project proposals from graduates. An upcoming webinar will offer professional guidance to refine proposals and increase chances for funding. GEM will also partner with the Ministry of Youth Development to implement outstanding projects and expand project management training.
Goje emphasized that graduates should uphold professionalism and excellence and act as ambassadors for GEM after completing the program. They are encouraged to enroll in a project management diploma pathway, promote GEM’s brand and initiatives, and lead impactful projects that support sustainable development across Africa.
Through its Australian affiliation, GEM Business School also offers 9 to 12-month diplomas in leadership, business, human resources, and project management. Its specialized academies include social impact, leadership foundation, Teach for Leadership, and business startups, providing practical training to develop leadership, workplace, and entrepreneurial skills.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
