Adaobi's Story
Adaobi Nkeokelonye, Nigeria
Thinking about Cohort 12 overall, what is the main benefit for you?
Being part of Cohort 12 re-affirmed the need for me to become an active participant and not just a passive recipient of development dividends. LEAD Cohort 12 introduced me into the network of the right people needed to effect positive change locally and internationally. It has given me the platform, the skills and the confidence needed as a young leader for advancement.
What is your best memory of Cohort 12?
Meeting with a collection of the world's most beautiful professionals from different culture and disciplines and having them witness the conferred LEAD fellowship title on me was memorable.
I enjoyed our time during site visit with the Indonesian rice farmers exploring and appreciating their local wisdoms on sustainability. Being a part of the ITS skill module on Leadership where we created the ‘Wall of Leadership’ was appreciated as it gave me and other participants an opportunity to celebrate our local leaders on an international common ground.
Tell us about any life / work changes you have made in your life because of something you learned or an experience you had during the programme.
Before joining LEAD, I have worked as a youth development worker consulting in HIV/AIDS issues, Life building Skills, Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health and Gender issues. Then, My Understanding of Leadership was limited to my responsibilities in my field of work.
After taking the Leadership for Environment and Development Training and having a better understanding of my environment, bio-diversity and climate change, things have changed. The ‘Think Global, act Local attitude’ caught up with me.
Today, I feel like a conductor of one of the world’s biggest orchestra with a deep consciousness that every of my slightest gesture has an effect.
Would you recommend the LEAD training to other people and what would you say to them?
For me, LEAD is a toast to every leader. In LEAD, every leader finds completeness. For every young person desirous of traveling towards the road of global sustainability, the journey is reachable with a permanent support from the LEAD family.
The conditions that create unsustainable development and social inequity is each day been ripped of its monopoly facade and taking a global face. We can now see the need for a global solution to address these global challenges.
LEAD is a bridge builder, as its training harnesses and synergizes collective talents of outstanding leaders from different sector, discipline and culture around the world to ensure that they have one heartbeat towards global challenges.
