The United States (US) Embassy in Abuja has honored Dr Mairo Mandara as the Matron of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria (MWFAAN) for her contributions to youth development and her dedication to mentoring young people in Nigeria.
The Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria has for the first time since its inception 10 years ago inaugurated Mandara as her maiden matron.
Speaking at the event, the Cultural Affairs Officer of the embassy, Brian Neubert said Mandara stood out as a great mentor to young women in Nigeria, as she provides hope to thousands through dedicated charitable educational and empowerment programs for young girls and vulnerable women.
Neubert also emphasised the need for experienced professionals mentors to guide and support young individuals as they navigate their educational and professional journeys.
“We believe in the power of mentorship and the significant role that mentors like Dr. Mandara plays in inspiring and guiding young people to achieve their full potential cannot be overlooked.
“We are hence convinced that she will bring her experience, values and excellent qualities to bear in the new responsibilities. My advice to Nigerians is to listen to people like Dr Mandara, to listen to people who have dedicated their lives to social justice, dedicated their lives to girls and to women, to humanitarian causes, to improving health, nutrition, food security.
“She has been out there on the frontlines. She has been all over the country and all over the world, advocating on behalf of these causes, and I would tell young Nigerians to emulate her, to listen to her, seek her out as a mentor,” he stressed.
In her address, Mandara urged the alumni to shun been individualism and embrace the idea of mentorship for a better society while also urging youths to take charge of today as now is the future.
“While appreciating the honour, I think we should all see mentorship as a responsibility rather than a favour. The bottom line is, especially in the current day Nigeria, we just we cannot succeed if we remain individualistic. It is just not okay when only you are okay, others around you must be okay too. So if we could be responsible enough to bring forward everybody that is behind, the world would be a better place.
“We all should embrace mentorship. The most beautiful part of mentorship is that as a mentor, actually get to grow, probably better than the mentee, because by giving you institutionalize and immortalise what you have. It is also time for the youths to be at the helms of affairs because there is no time for the future, now is for the young people and they should take charge,” she emphasised.
President of the MWFAAN, Mrs Farida Yahya said Mandara’s dedication, passion, and leadership has made a significant impact on communities, and the alumni was thrilled to recognise her achievements with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
“As we invest Dr. Mandara as our Matron, we acknowledge her commitment to empowering others and her unwavering support for the alumni community. May her leadership inspire us to continue making a positive difference in our respective fields and beyond,” she said.
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