Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Osita Chidoka, has said Nigeria’s quest for stronger institutions and better governance depends ultimately on the quality, competence and character of those entrusted with public leadership.
Speaking at the graduation and closing ceremony of the maiden Athena-Anchoria Junior Fellowship Programme, where 13 fellows completed a six-month leadership and policy development programme, Chidoka described the graduates as pioneers laying the foundation for a long-term nation-building initiative.
“In every sense, these are the first,” he said. “If I were to give these remarks a title, it would be this: The First of Many. Today is a graduation, but it is also a foundation.”
Chidoka said the fellowship emerged from years of research and engagement by the Athena Centre on public policy, governance and institutional reform.
According to him, one overriding lesson stood out: meaningful reform ultimately depends on the people responsible for implementing it.
“Research can tell us what we must change. Reform can set out how we can change it. Whether change can actually happen depends, in the end, on people,” he said.
He stressed that public institutions are only as effective as the individuals who lead them, noting that even the most carefully designed policies could fail in the hands of unprepared leaders.
“A well-designed policy in the hands of people who cannot analyse, who will not question, or who do not care for the public interest will fail,” Chidoka said. “An imperfect institution in the hands of capable and principled people can still serve its citizens well.”
He added: “Institutions do not build themselves. People build them.”
The former minister explained that the fellowship was established as a practical intervention to nurture future leaders equipped with the analytical, ethical and professional skills needed to strengthen public institutions.
“This fellowship is a practical expression of that belief. It is not a side project. It is not a conventional training course. It is the logical extension of everything Athena exists to do: building the people who will build Nigeria’s institutions,” he said.
Chidoka commended Anchoria Capital Group, the programme’s partner, for investing in the initiative at its formative stage and helping broaden the curriculum beyond governance and public policy.
He said Athena contributed expertise in public policy, governance, research and mentorship, while Anchoria provided training in financial literacy, investment knowledge and economic decision-making.
“The young people we hope to prepare will lead in a country where almost every policy question is also an economic one,” he said. “An understanding of governance is incomplete without an understanding of the economic decisions that shape public life.”
Thanking the organisation for its support, Chidoka specifically acknowledged Anchoria’s leadership for believing in the vision before its outcomes were evident.
“I want to thank Anchoria sincerely for believing in this idea before we had anything to show for it,” he said, expressing hope that the collaboration would inspire similar partnerships between civic institutions and the private sector.
The six-month fellowship combined virtual learning, policy engagement, mentorship and a residential programme designed to expose participants to governance challenges, public administration and leadership practice.
According to Chidoka, the pioneer cohort reflected the diversity of Nigeria itself.
The 13 fellows were selected from all six geopolitical zones, representing 11 states, 13 universities and 11 academic disciplines, including pharmacy, biochemistry, medical laboratory science, computer science, mass communication, international relations and political science.
“That was not an accident,” he said. “We deliberately brought together young Nigerians who might otherwise never have met. Nigeria’s problems do not respect the boundaries of a single discipline or a single region. Neither should the people preparing to solve them.”
He also announced the launch of a collection of civic essays written by the fellows, describing the publication as evidence that young Nigerians are prepared to contribute meaningfully to national discourse.
“Young Nigerians with something thoughtful and confident to say about this country have stepped out of the audience and into the national conversation,” Chidoka said. “This is exactly where we want them to be.”
Describing the graduates’ achievement as the beginning rather than the culmination of a journey, Chidoka challenged them to deploy their knowledge, discipline and networks in service of the country, while carrying forward the responsibility of leadership and public service.
“The first of many” may describe the cohort, he said, but their true significance will be measured by the impact they make in strengthening Nigeria’s institutions and advancing the public good.
