partners Centre LSD on capacity building, mentorship

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has taken steps to deepen capacity building for its members through a proposed strategic partnership with the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD).
The move was formalized on Tuesday when the NUJ FCT Council paid a courtesy visit to the leadership of Centre LSD.
Receiving the NUJ delegation, the Executive Director of the Centre, Mr. Monday Osasah, expressed the organization’s readiness to partner strategically with the council in advancing leadership development, accountability, and good governance.
Mr. Osasah explained that the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, established in 2010, was founded to empower citizens to transform society.
According to him, “The Centre’s work is anchored on addressing three critical gaps: the absence of strategic leadership, lack of strategy, and inappropriate leadership.
“The Centre runs a leadership school that offers free training, and so far, a total of 3,211 persons have benefited from these programs, with training centers already operating in Benin, Warri, Port Harcourt, and Abakaliki.”
The Executive Director further revealed that the Leadership School also offers tailor-made international training programs.
He stressed that effective strategy development begins with a clearly defined mission and proper accreditation, adding that government policies can only meet grassroots needs when leaders understand and apply strategic thinking in policy implementation.
He explained the Centre’s readiness to partner with the NUJ FCT in the training and retraining of members, as well as providing mentorship programs.
In her response, the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, noted that as a professional body, the council is always open to partnerships that contribute to societal development while strengthening ethical and responsible journalism.
She said, “We believe the media has a key role to play in amplifying initiatives that support good governance, leadership development, and sustainable progress across the continent.”
She further explained the council’s willingness to partner with Centre LSD to ensure training for members for effective leadership roles.
“We are aware that Centre LSD is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to building strategic leadership for sustainable development in Africa, with a strong focus on governance, leadership, strategy, and development.
“ These are critical areas that align closely with the media’s role in promoting accountability, public enlightenment, and national growth,” she said.
“We would, therefore, like to learn more about your programs, ongoing activities, and the specific expectations you have from this proposed partnership. This will help us determine how best our members can support your visibility and communication goals in a structured and professional manner.
“We are open to discussing a practical framework that defines the scope of media coverage, responsibilities, and possible areas for long-term collaboration between Centre LSD and the NUJ FCT Council”, she stated.
The visit was attended by management staff of the Centre who contributed ideas on how both organizations can mutually benefit from each other to enhance strategic cooperation.