Group Harps On Equipping Youths With Leadership Skills

A non-profit organisation, Toastmasters International has stressed the need for youths to embrace leadership skills and prepare for  future leadership.

The group, which is committed to training in effective communication and leadership skills through its global network of over 16,000 clubs, charged youths to always prepare for their next tasks and take charge of their future.

The Lagos, district director West and Central Africa of Toastmasters International, Nadine Mbikina, DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster) said  her organisation was passionate about human capacity development and has created programmes which youths can avail themselves of.

Mbikina, who doubles as operations manager for the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Guinea, said the onus lies for Africa to advance via her visionary leaders and change agents who will impart the people to solve problems.

The pragmatic leader said that Toastmasters Clubs would soon be established in tertiary institutions across Africa and a mentorship programme for young girls would be drafted.

“We are based on practicality. We learn by doing, and we charge about $120 per year. I have been impacted greatly especially in building my communication and leadership skills. The training is structured in such a way that your growth is being monitored with constructive criticism. We have a lot of Toastmasters who are prominent personalities,” she said.

The programme quality director, District 94, Kayode Yussuf said  Toastmasters’ education and training programmes teach five core competencies via hands-on learning style, access to  mentors, practicing prepared and impromptu speeches, an individual could develop expert-level speaking skills in 12 months.

He said, “We improve public speaking skills, we teach practical and not theory, we build leadership skills, maximise potential, build self- confidence and self -awareness. We work on gaining competitive advantage in the workplace and leveraging networking for development and advancement.”