PROSPER OKOYE
The Benue State Chapter of the United States Government Exchange Alumni Association of Nigeria, USGEAAN, has successfully hosted its maiden Benue Leadership Summit, drawing more than 400 participants.
The summit held on Tuesday at the Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, was organised under the leadership of the chapter’s coordinator, Dr. Terese Akpem.
Participants included students, National Youth Service Corps 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 committed to promoting leadership development and expanding 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 and cultivate ethical leadership capable of transforming communities across Benue State and Nigeria.
He thanked participants for the large turnout and urged them to apply the knowledge gained while remaining active in the newly established network.
Akpem expressed optimism that the summit would become Benue’s flagship platform for international exchange awareness, leadership development and youth empowerment.
He added that 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 was a presentation on more than 26 U.S. Government exchange programmes by Mr. Kengkeng Ati, a 2015 Mandela Washington Fellow.
Ati provided practical information on eligibility requirements, application procedures and strategies for securing international exchange opportunities.
The summit also featured a panel discussion with 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.
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