The Bridge Trains 600 Students, 120 Teachers And To Give Also Scholarships To 30 Students

The Bridge Leadership Foundation, a frontline leadership and youth development organization in Cross River State has impacted the lives of more than 600 students and 120 teachers from about 150 public secondary schools in Cross River State through the 2017 Leadership and Community Development Programme.

Between September and October 2017, the staff and volunteers of The Bridge Leadership Foundation, toured 5 LGAs in Cross River State, namely, Ogoja, Boki, Bekwarra, Akpabuyo and Odukpani, to implement the 2017 Leadership and Community Development (LCD) Programme of the foundation.

Working with 5 experienced educationists and 20 dedicated volunteers, The Bridge successfully implemented this values-transmission and life changing training that lasted more than 8 weeks. The training is part of the on- year LCD/Scholarship Programme of The Bridge. Based on the general theme of the 2017 LCD/Scholarship Programme: Raising Socially Responsible Leaders, the programme curriculum was designed to engage the students in activities that helped them develop skills in leadership, decision making, problem-solving, critical thinking, public speaking and creativity.

At each location, 2 trainings were running concurrently – the students training and the teachers training. The teachers training was introduced as a sustainability model, to help continue and sustain what The Bridge has kick-started in these young people.

An important component of the programme is The Bridge Scholarship. The students who participated in the training, took part in an essay competition. 30 winners have emerged from the essay competition and will receive scholarship from The Bridge and partners. The scholarship provides educational support to the beneficiaries, and helps them live their dreams to the fullest.

The Bridge worked with the Education Secretary of the benefiting LGAs, the principals and teachers of the benefiting schools. This programme has earlier been endorsed by the Cross River Government through the Hon Commissioner for Education, Mr. Goddy Ettah.

Thursday, November 30, 2017 has been fixed for the award of the 2017 Bridge Scholarship to 30 beneficiaries from the 5 LGAs – Ogoja, Boki, Bekwarra, Akpabuyo and Odukpani, at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar. The Founder and Chairman, Board of Trustees of The Bridge Leadership Foundation, Senator Liyel Imoke, CON, the Trustees of the foundation, Prof Ivara Esu, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State and other invited guests will grace the occasion.

Speakers at this event are: Keynote Speaker, Dr Dekunbi Wuraola: Principal Consultant, Discover Your Potential Limited. Others are: Rotimi  Eyitayo, Project Director, Team Masters Global and Ms Grace Ihejiamaizu, Ikapture Network.

The Leadership and Community Development Programme is an annual programme of The Bridge, which has impacted more than 3,000 students in 14 LGAs in Cross River State, since inception in 2014.

The Bridge Leadership Foundation (TBLF) is a non-governmental organization established in 2011 with a vision to build generations of young people educated to become compassionate, entrepreneurial and engaged citizens who are empowered to become life bridges for others, take responsibility for their own lives and make a difference in the world.

The Foundation was set up to inspire, motivate, train, mentor, educate and empower young people to achieve their best. In the past five years, the Foundation has worked towards its vision by impacting over 30,000 young people using cutting edge programmes with continued commitment of the mentors, sponsors and partners of the Foundation.

Uchenna Achunine
Executive Secretary