Initiative trains 30 young Africans on leadership skills

Seeing a great need to develop generational leaders in Africa, a Gordon Conwell MDiv student, Akinyemi Lapinni, has empowered 30 young leaders in the yearly Global Youth Leadership Experience (GYLE 22) in Ibadan, Nigeria. Lapinni, who is the founder of a Nigeria-based nonprofit outfit, World Changers Development Initiative, says the vision of the programme includes […]

Seeing a great need to develop generational leaders in Africa, a Gordon Conwell MDiv student, Akinyemi Lapinni, has empowered 30 young leaders in the yearly Global Youth Leadership Experience (GYLE 22) in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Lapinni, who is the founder of a Nigeria-based nonprofit outfit, World Changers Development Initiative, says the vision of the programme includes engaging, equipping and empowering young leaders and institutions in Africa as global change-makers for the transformation of lives and society.

The 2022 cohort has 30 young leaders who are ready to take the world for good, he noted, with speakers drawn from Liberia, Canada, USA and host country, Nigeria.

The students went through courses like developing ‘your life vision’, ‘goals and strategies for impact’, ‘exploring admission’, ‘scholarships and exposures in schools abroad’, ‘exploring the sport ministry’, ‘maximising ICT and social media’, ‘creating content and online platforms for ministry’, ‘the leader and his life journey’.

Other sessions were ‘leadership and resilience’ and ‘exploring the marketplace ministry’.

Participants expressed their gratitude for the capacity-building and networking opportunities and asked for further mentoring and opportunity for ministry.

The next year two cohorts would take place in Ghana and Nigeria, respectively.

Lapinni disclosed that “The annual Global Youth Leadership Experience (GYLE) programme for young leaders in Africa started in 2016 when I created a platform for personal spiritual growth, rejuvenation, and relationship with God.

“It also aims to build life skills, mentoring and networking for young leaders, youth ministries, and other leaders in university campuses in Nigeria to impact their world.

“This programme helps them reflect on their leadership journey and the changes they might be willing to make in the future.

“They would explore their own values, motivations and goals on how they want to impact the world for Christ.”