Kaduna State Governoe Uba Sani on Friday called on Kashim Ibrahim Fellows (KIF) to make significant contributions to the nation’s development
Governor Sani made the call at the graduation ceremony of the KIF 5.0 cohort at the Government House, Kaduna.
Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship (KIF) is a one-year non-partisan leadership training programme for young Nigerians between the age of 25-35 years. It aims to create a network of high potential young Nigerians who are expected to rise to top leadership positions in the public sector and other spheres of activity over the next decade.
While speaking Governor Sani said the one-year programme was designed for young Nigerians and that it was initiated by former Gov. El-Rufai.
According to him, the first of its kind in Nigeria, the programme is worthy of emulation by any state interested in empowering the youth to realise their full potential in creative and innovative approach in advancing their carriers.
He said: “Since its inception, it has graduated 70 fellows who have continued to excel in their chosen fields; with the additional 23 graduating today brings the number to 94”.
He noted that his administration recognised that the youth constituted the largest demography in the state as such the state was committed to creating a youth-friendly environment.
He said KIF had created an opportunity to foster unity adding that if the youth came together to fashion common unity to the service of the nation, in no time, the nation will join the league of developed countries.
He described former governor El-Rufai as an embodiment of excellence in public service, commitment, dedication, integrity, courage, high intellect and selflessness.
“”Having gone through Mallam El-Rufai’s School of Leadership, you must at all times strive for excellence. I am confident that today marks the beginning of your journey to the pinnacle of your chosen careers,” he said.
He further congratulated them on their graduation, saying that they were the pride not only of their parents but also of state and country at large.
Speaking also at the event, Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, urged the graduating fellows to go out and make a difference because that was the focus for which the founder had in mind.
She charged them to be patriotic and competent leaders which is what the country needs.
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She also called on them to be good ambassadors of the programme wherever they found themselves.
On her part, the Administrator KIF, Zainab Mohammed, said the journey,which started in August 2022, had been one year of immersion into the workings of the Kaduna State Government through quarterly rotations in its MDAS.
The KIF experience had demystified public service and sufficiently challenged them to rise beyond a mere quest for a good society and become change agents themselves, she said.
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