NLI’s mission “is to create a growing, global network of credible, accomplished community-spirited Nigerian leaders, committed to taking responsibility for driving positive change in Nigeria and Nigerian communities.” Consistent with this mission, the NLI network has reached another milestone with the induction of the inaugural Fellows Class. On November 1, a cohort of leaders was inducted in a ceremony chaired by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Ambassador Bisa Williams at Yale University, New Haven, CT, US.

From October 26 through November 1, in collaboration with NLI Partner, Yale University, 17 Nigerian leaders participated in the seminar themed High-Impact Leadership for a Better Society. The goal of the Seminar is to deepen the leadership learning of the Fellows on how to create impact for a good Nigerian society. The major objectives are to: challenge the participants to think more deeply about living more successful and meaningful lives; move the Fellows from success to significance with focus on high-impact leadership for a better Nigerian society; and encourage them to move from thought to action through a high-impact class project.

The seminar modules are on: values; leadership; innovation; and impact. Designed as an intensive and interactive program, the Seminar will be led by world-class moderators who are in two categories: Yale Professors provided cutting-edge theory and knowledge while challenging conventional thinking; and, practitioners who have solved real-life complex issues and challenges through work experience. With a seminar flow of an intersection of theory and application, the Fellows equally benefited from a rich discussion among peers thereby enriching individual perspectives from public and private sectors as well as the civil society.

The basis of NLI’s Fellows Program is to inspire inductees to be comfortable in their leadership role and thrive under uncertainty. The dynamic nature of context and timing was the premise of several interrogations underlying the curriculum: what key capabilities, not lessons or courses, are required to continue a leadership journey while also providing tools for the Fellows to walk into their roles within the society and their respective organizations. As NLI Fellows, they were taken through the leadership journey of self-awareness, agility, and maturity as well as critical thinking, foresightedness, and negotiations. Given that the Fellows were at the inflection point of transitioning from functional leadership to a holistic and bigger-picture view of the society, they acquired new approaches of rallying people toward a common purpose.

After the Seminar, the participants unanimously reported that they were personally renewed, professionally refocused, and better prepared to continue their leadership journey while also walking into roles within the society and their organization.