Stakeholders Urged to Equip Children with Leadership Values

Stakeholders Urged to Equip Children with Leadership Values

The Abia State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Comrade Victor Orji, has called on parents, teachers and community leaders to deliberately equip children with the values and skills required to become responsible leaders and productive citizens.

Orji made the call while delivering the keynote address at the Train-the-Trainers Summit organised by the Duke Infant and Child Foundation at the Wonderland Event Centre, Isi-Court, Umuahia.

Speaking on the theme, “Empowering Our Next Generation Leaders: Raising Children to Thrive and Lead,” the NOA director said Nigeria’s future depends largely on the quality of values, knowledge and leadership capacity instilled in children.

He stressed the need for intentional efforts in preparing those responsible for shaping young minds, including parents, teachers, caregivers, faith leaders and community influencers.

According to him, the NOA, as the Federal Government’s flagship agency for value re-orientation and civic education, recognises that nation-building begins in the home, extends to the classroom and is reinforced within the community.

“Our mandate to promote patriotism, civic responsibility, ethical conduct and national consciousness aligns perfectly with the objective of this summit,” Orji said.

The director expressed concern over growing societal challenges such as moral decline, youth restiveness, misinformation and weakening social structures, noting that initiatives like the summit are critical in addressing them.

He added that training those who mentor and guide children creates a multiplier effect that can positively influence many young lives.

“When we empower one parent, one teacher or one community leader, we indirectly shape dozens, hundreds and even thousands of young people,” he said.

Orji also commended the initiative for aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those relating to quality education, decent work, economic growth and poverty reduction.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the NOA Abia State Directorate to collaborate with credible organisations and stakeholders to deepen grassroots engagement, promote positive behavioural change and build a value-driven society.

The director further urged participants to treat the summit as a call to action by adopting practical strategies and strengthening their commitment to raising a generation capable of leading responsibly and ethically.

Earlier, the convener of the summit, Mrs. Augusta Olachi Anyunwu-Egbom, said the programme was designed to equip parents, caregivers, teachers and community leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to raise purpose-driven children in the rapidly evolving 21st-century world.

She noted that technological advancement and changing cultural realities have created new challenges for families, making it necessary for parents and educators to be more intentional in guiding children.
“Raising children in the 21st century requires more than good intentions. It requires preparation, awareness and deliberate action,” she said.

Anyunwu-Egbom explained that the Train-the-Trainers initiative focuses on empowering those who directly influence children’s development, adding that equipped parents and teachers can transform homes and classrooms into nurturing spaces for young people.

She disclosed that the summit is currently taking place simultaneously in Abia and Imo states as part of a wider national outreach that has already covered eight states and nine locations in its first phase.

According to her, the initiative is largely funded through personal resources, while appealing to corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to support the programme as part of efforts toward national development.

“We are not just raising children; we are raising a generation that will lead the world. The quality of leadership they offer tomorrow will depend on the guidance they receive today,” she said.

Participants were encouraged to actively engage in the training sessions, reflect on their roles as mentors to the next generation and commit to nurturing confident, responsible and value-driven young leaders capable of contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s progress.