The maiden Benue Leadership Summit of the United States (U.S.) Government Exchange Alumni Association of Nigeria (USGEAAN) has attracted more than 400 participants.
The summit, held on Tuesday at Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, was organised by the Benue State chapter of the association under the leadership of Dr. Terese Akpem.
Participants included students, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, entrepreneurs, public servants, educators, development professionals, policymakers and alumni of various U.S. Government exchange programmes.
The event also attracted representatives of the university, development partners and other stakeholders to promote leadership development and expand access to international educational and professional opportunities.
Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Akpem, a 2023 Mandela Washington Fellow, said the summit was designed to democratise access to global opportunities while cultivating ethical leadership capable of transforming communities across Benue and Nigeria.
Akpem appreciated participants for the large turnout and encouraged them to apply the knowledge gained during the summit while remaining actively engaged with the newly established network.
He expressed optimism that the summit would become Benue’s flagship platform for international exchange awareness, leadership development and youth empowerment
He said the platform was created to expose young people to the wide range of educational, leadership and professional exchange opportunities offered through U.S. Government programmes.
Delivering the keynote address, the Executive Director of DevTrain, Mr Suunen Atsuwe, urged participants to embrace innovation, leadership and lifelong learning as catalysts for sustainable national development.
A major highlight of the summit was a presentation on more than 26 U.S. Government exchange programmes by Mr Kengkeng Ati, a 2015 Mandela Washington Fellow.
Ati provided participants with practical information on eligibility requirements, application procedures and strategies for securing international exchange opportunities.
The summit also featured a panel discussion involving accomplished U.S. exchange alumni, career opportunities presented by the Jobberman team, entrepreneurship and employability masterclasses, interactive question-and-answer sessions, and networking opportunities linking participants with mentors, employers and potential collaborators.
As part of activities marking the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, organisers conducted a trivia session on U.S. history, during which more than 15 participants won prizes.
To sustain the gains of the summit, organisers inaugurated the Benue Opportunities Hub, a community designed to promote mentorship, collaboration, information sharing and continued access to global opportunities.
