A non profit organization in calabar dedicated to creating a pipeline of trained and equipped future leaders, Paragons Leadership Initiative has launched their first advocacy project titled Empowering Future Leaders; revamping the prefectorial system in Cross River State.
The policy brief presentation and stakeholders town hall meeting which held on 10th August 2024 was a response to the poor leadership structure and neglect of the prefectorial system in the state and country.
The meeting gathered different stakeholders ranging from the Ministry of Youth and Skills acquisition, Committee for Education, Cross River State House of Assembly, National Association of Private School Proprietors and the Civil society Coalition on Education,( CSACEFA).
Supported by LEAP Africa and Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, the advocacy projects aims to implement mandatory capacity building trainings for all secondary schools in Cross River state as well as improve the prefectorial system and empower student leaders with vital leadership and personal development skills.
In her opening remarks, Satina Okoi the Executive Director appreciated all stakeholders and partners.
She further stated that Nigeria is inundated with resources waiting to be harvested by purposeful leadership, hence revamping the prefectorial system is a transgenerational project aimed at raising trained and equipped future leaders who will lead change and serve their communities.
She further appealed for collaboration and coordination, encouraging interagency cooperation of stakeholders’ engagement to emphasize the critical importance of advancing this policy in the state and beyond.
Some of the recommendations in the policy brief include;
1. Introduction of a legal framework for a Unified Prefectorial System.
2. A mandatory training for all students leaders of schools in Cross River State.
3. Publication and distribution of a students leadership training manual to all schools in Cross River State.
In giving their remarks, the honourable chairman for education committee board, Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Martins Achadu, commended the bold initiative and further advised on how this innovative initiative can be sustained in the future.
The chairman of Civil Society Action Coalition on Education, Leader Ben Usang in his remarks assured the organization that they have his support and he is impressed with what the organization has done in the past by training prefects in selected schools in Calabar and now wants to extend this to the 18 local government Areas of the State.
The representatives of NAPPS and the Ministry of Youth also thanked the organization for this great innovation and they promised to offer their full support where needed.