The Ladder Initiative
Nigeria’s population, currently the seventh largest in the world, is the fastest-growing among the 10 most populous countries worldwide. According to United Nations report, Nigeria would overtake the United States in terms of population to become the third-largest with more than 300 million people by 2050. Nigeria’s population is about 182 million with more than half its people under 30 years of age.This means more than 8o million people need to be developed. Ready or not, they will lead Nigeria and compete with their peers around the world in the future.
Although, Nigerian youths are encumbered by copious demoralizing challenges ranging from unemployment, disenchantment, alienation, violence, self abasement, crime, marginalization and social exclusion, they are still the most energetic, ingenious and adventurous youths in the continent. Besides the aforementioned challenges, the Nigerian youth seem to be immobilized by acute scarcity of mentors and proper platforms for youth development, solidarity and engagement.
Youth marginalization, apathy and alienation will continue in Nigeria unless young people are empowered to rise from their slumber and begin to take action and get involve in issues affecting them in all sphere of public life. As a Sociologist and Pastor I think I have a duty to prepare them, mentor, empower them and release them to become the change drivers in their respective communities across the nation. This is exactly what ‘The Ladder Initiative’ intend to do .
Mission/Vision<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
The mission of The Ladder Initiative (TLI) is to inspire leadership by providing platform for youth development, solidarity and engagement in Nigeria.
The Ladder Initiative hopes to turn ordinary youths into an effective army of leaders who will transform their communities. We shall provide youth people especially student in high schools and tertiary educational institutions across Nigeria with leadership and entrepreneurship development training and resources targeted to help them discover their purpose, harness their gifts and unleash it to drive change in their communities. Academic excellence, leadership, entrepreneurship and character building - is central to our mission.
We believe that Leaders are not born, it’s not hereditary, and it’s not the product of any DNA, rather leaders are made. We are convinced beyond doubt that Leadership is an discernible, learnable set of practices. Leadership is developed, like all other skills, through deliberate practice over time. Given the chance, appropriate resources and practice, those with the desire and determination to lead can significantly develop their abilities to do so.
We intend to grow leaders through Training and Mentoring. At ladder we shall connect young people with adult mentors through our mentorship program. We believe that mentorship is very critical to leadership development. The Harvard Business Review surveyed top leaders and discovered every successful CEO had just one thing in common. Each one had a mentor. Half the Nobel Peace Prize winners were mentored by former peace prize laureates. Mentoring is the key. It’s a process not an event.
