Mentorship is an ages-old concept which thrived in Africa’s traditional systems of government. From the Buganda people in the East to the Wolof in the West, succession among many Bantu tribes across Africa was systematically preceded by years of mentorship to ensure that those who were in line for succession had the skills, tools and knowledge to lead. Rulers made time to literally ‘show young people the ropes.’
JA Nigeria’s partnership with Union Bank includes mentorship and coaching sessions for young girls who go through the LEAD (Leadership, Empowerment, Achievement and Development) Camp.Mentors from Union Bank’s Women’s Empowerment Hub (WeHub) met with their assigned mentees from the LEAD Camp classes of 2016 and 2017 at Union Bank offices across Nigeria. The mentoring relationship is part of the bank’s sponsorship of the LEAD Camp, which is a leadership and empowerment camp for 50 outstanding young women who have gone through the Company Program and displayed outstanding leadership skills. Part of the goal of the mentoring relationship is to support the girls in getting into (and staying in) university and make informed choices.
Mentorship bridges the gap between present and future leaders, giving a sense of confidence to the youth to be able to interact with and learn from top industry players. Any African professional who has attained a certain level of success has an obligation to reach back and pull someone new along on the path to success.
We thank Union Bank for sponsoring the LEAD Camp and staying engaged with the girls long after the camp to ensure their success!
