The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council has taken a decisive step to deepen capacity building for its members through a proposed strategic partnership with the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (LSD).
The partnership was formalized on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the NUJ FCT Council to the leadership of the African Centre LSD.
Receiving the delegation, the Executive Director of the Centre, Mr. Monday Osasah, expressed the Centre’s readiness to collaborate with NUJ FCT in advancing leadership development, accountability, and good governance.
Founded in 2003, the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development aims to empower citizens to transform society. Mr. Osasah explained that the Centre’s work addresses three critical gaps: the absence of strategic leadership, lack of strategy, and inappropriate leadership.
He added, “The Centre runs a leadership school that offers free training, and so far, 3,211 individuals have benefited from our programmes. We already operate training centres in Benin, Warri, Port Harcourt, and Abakaliki.”
Mr. Osasah also highlighted that the Centre offers tailor-made international training programmes, emphasizing that effective strategy development begins with a clearly defined mission and proper accreditation. He noted that government policies can only meet grassroots needs when leaders understand and apply strategy in policy implementation.
He confirmed the Centre’s readiness to partner with NUJ FCT to provide training, retraining, and mentorship programmes for members.
In her response, the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, affirmed the council’s commitment to partnerships that strengthen ethical and responsible journalism while contributing to societal development.
She stated, “We believe the media has a key role to play in amplifying initiatives that support good governance, leadership development, and sustainable progress across the continent. We are eager to partner with the LSD Centre to ensure training for members in effective leadership roles.”
Comrade Ike added, “The LSD Centre is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to strategic leadership for sustainable development in Africa. Its focus on governance, leadership, strategy, and development aligns closely with the media’s role in promoting accountability, public enlightenment, and national growth.”
She further expressed the council’s interest in understanding the Centre’s programmes, ongoing activities, and expectations from the partnership to determine how NUJ members can support its visibility and communication goals professionally.
“We are open to discussing a practical framework that defines media coverage, responsibilities, and possible areas for long-term collaboration,” she added.
The visit also included management staff of the Centre, who contributed to discussions on areas where both organizations can mutually benefit to enhance strategic cooperation.
