Lead The Change You Seek, Chidoka Tells African Youths

Former minister of aviation and chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Chief Osita Chidoka, called on African youths to grasp the reins of change on the continent.

He urged African youths not to wait for invitations but to boldly “invite themselves to the table” by showcasing their value. 

Chidoka further charged them to reverse the trend of ageing leadership just as he advocated  proactive steps toward governance.

He spoke at a colloquium, organised by Zuri Health, a health tech company in Africa founded by Ike Arthur Anoke in 2020, convened at The JW Marriott Hotel Nairobi recently, a statement from his media team stated. 

According to the statement, the event attracted a diverse audience of young people and featured  speakers, including Mary Mulili, MD, UBA Kenya; Dr. Borna Nyaoke Anoke – Head of The Mycetoma Program, Drugs for Neglected Disease. 

Other keynote speakers are Ambassador Laassel, His Majesty’s Ambassador Kingdom of Morocco to Kenya and South Sudan, and HE Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and a prominent presidential candidate in Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election.

Drawing from his tenure in modernising Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Chidoka unveiled his four-step success model, KNVES (Knowledge, Vision, Execute, and Sustain), highlighting the importance of establishing a baseline, fostering a shared vision, effective execution, and sustaining results.

Under Chidoka’s tenure as the agency’s chief executive officer, FRSC recorded significant reductions in road crashes and fatalities, international recognition of Nigerian driver’s licenses, secured a $10 million grant from the World Bank, and obtained ISO 9001 certification.

Emphasising the potency of youth contribution, Chidoka urged young leaders to harness their energy and fearlessness to drive positive change within their communities, asserting that taking the initiative is the pathway to fostering youth inclusion in governance.

As Africa stands at a critical juncture, Chidoka called for “African youths to rise, lead, and shape a prosperous future.”