Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts and Founder of the Children of Africa Leadership Development Initiative (CALDEV), Bamidele Salam, has reaffirmed his commitment to nurturing the next generation of African leaders, emphasising that leaders are “more made than born.”
He pledged at the 2025 National Children Leadership Conference (NCLC) in Abuja, where more than 400 young participants from across the continent gathered for a five-day leadership and digital-skills programme.
Salam said the conference, now in its fourth edition, was established to address gaps in Africa’s leadership development systems.He explained that the initiative, founded in 2015, provides mentorship, practical exposure and capacity-building opportunities for teenagers aspiring to take on leadership roles in politics, business and community development.
Responding to claims that young people are not ready for leadership, Salam argued that such assumptions are unfounded. He maintained that young Nigerians cannot be dismissed when they have not been offered platforms that encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving. The competence shown by participants at the conference, he said, demonstrates their readiness.
He added that the programme strengthens national unity by bringing together children from affluent families, low-income households, internally displaced persons’ camps and communities of children living with disabilities. This diversity encourages tolerance and promotes social cohesion across religious and ethnic lines .
Barrister Akintayo Jimoh, a member of the Board of Trustees, said the visible transformation recorded among participants from previous editions underscores the programme’s impact. He described the event as the only consistent national gathering celebrating Universal Children’s Day, with the return of delegates from across Nigerian states and African countries reinforcing the organisers’ commitment to expanding the initiative.
Among this year’s participants is the member representing Shanni Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, who also serves as the Deputy Speaker of the Borno State Children’s Parliament, Rt Hon Ibrahim Umar.
Speaking on the opportunities the conference presents, Umar expressed excitement about touring the National Assembly, engaging with federal representatives and building meaningful networks with children from across Nigeria.
“I want to become more socially responsible and digitally smart,” he stated, adding that representing his state as an ambassador remains a significant personal goal. He pledged to extend the impact of the conference beyond Abuja.
“When I return to my state, I plan to share what I learned with other children and raise a motion at the State Children’s Parliament to present a comprehensive report of the conference,” he said.
Also addressing the participants, the Speaker of the Nigerian Children’s Parliament, Hon Progress Friday Umoh, highlighted the weight of responsibility attached to representing millions of Nigerian children. Progress urged young people to use their voices to drive meaningful change.
“When a room is silent, your voice can be as loud as a speaker. Children must amplify each other’s voices and refuse to let others define their potential,” she said.
She added that the challenges facing Nigerian children from education and safety to social inclusion remain at the centre of the parliament’s advocacy. Through engagement with policymakers, NGOs and international agencies, the Children’s Parliament continues to push for policies that address systemic issues affecting children nationwide.
The 2025 conference, themed “The Role of Children in Nation Building: Digitally Smart, Socially Responsible,” featured interactive sessions, including lectures from young high achievers, breakout classes on artificial intelligence, video editing, graphic design and Microsoft Office, as well as discussions on digital ethics, self-development and community problem-solving.