The Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship is an initiative of the Leadership Bridge Foundation. It is a fully funded, non-partisan political leadership development project that nurtures and prepares young Nigerians for leadership at the local, regional and national levels, thereby improving the overall quality of leadership in the country.
Over the course of a year, fellows have access to personalized content provided by a carefully curated list of politicians, development experts, historians, civil society leaders, religious figures, advisors and mentors.
The Residential Bootcamp serves as a melting pot for networking with peers, immersing themselves in Nigeria’s federal policy ecosystem, meeting key decision-makers, and presenting their key projects before a diverse panel of experienced politicians and technocrats. The Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship also offers its fellows the opportunity to demystify Nigerian politics in collaboration with credible past and present politicians through the program’s mentoring initiative at Bootcamp. ELIGIBILITY
Who is eligible? Emerging Leaders:
Who are active in mainstream politics in Nigeria. With a proven track record of service to a community, region and Nigeria. With a demonstrable track record of accountability, integrity, strategy and sustainability. Age 25-35 (If you are between 36-45 years old with a strong application, you can still apply). Who meets all legal requirements to be elected to any level in Nigeria. No criminal record. No criminal case/ongoing investigation with any national or international security agency (such as Interpol, EFCC)
TARGET AUDIENCE
Who should apply? Mid-level and senior technocrats
Officers
Nigerians in the diaspora interested in running for election in Nigeria
Technical staff of former or current politicians (special advisers, technical assistants, etc.)
Political appointees (such as commissioners, executive secretaries, etc.)
Former political party candidates who ran for local/state/national office
Current candidates/Political representatives of political parties contesting local/state/national elections
Grassroots activists/changemakers with a proven track record of impact in their communities
Women, minorities (and other groups subject to discrimination and exclusion) with a proven track record of service and impact in their communities. benefit
What do you stand to gain? Opportunity to be part of political leadership capacity development program on the African continent
Access to a high-impact, 6-month political leadership development training
Opportunity to have access to, and be trained by a world-class Faculty
Group mentorship by credible and seasoned Nigerian Politicians currently serving at various levels across the country
One-on-one/group meetings with, and access to influential Nigerian politicians curated across party lines
Access to Learning Visits to Key Institutions and Organizations
Cost for local air travel, airport transfers, accommodation and feeding for the duration of the bootcamp will be covered (Nigerians in Diaspora will be responsible for their travel arrangements to Nigeria)
Opportunity to serve on subsequent Cohorts as Facilitators, Program Ambassadors, Advisory Council members, and/or Mentors
Upon completing the program, you will gain membership into the Alumni Association, providing you with access to a network of credible and like-minded emerging political leaders.
Upon selection, you will gain the opportunity to implement a civic-driven impact project in your community, develop your capstone project, and collaborate with other fellows to implement civic conversations and other impactful activities across social media platforms.
Increased visibility within Nigeria’s political space and amongst its most influential stakeholders
Social media spotlights across The Bridge Leadership Foundation, Advisory and Faculty member’s handles/pages
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
A completed application comprises:
if you are shortlisted you will be expected to submit a 3-5 minute application video answering the question ‘Why should you be selected for the fellowship and how your vision will catalyze the kind of change Nigeria needs?’
An up-to-date CV
A completed and submitted application form
APPLICATION TIPS
We have put a lot of thought into developing the application process to make it as easy as possible for you to respond to our call. We are not looking for perfect answers, we are looking for solutions that reflect belief and conviction. All you need to do is fill in the application form where you can also upload your CV. We believe that this application process will help you articulate your thoughts in a way that is useful beyond socializing, and can go a long way in helping you present your vision in a way that galvanizes the kind of support you need.
For any technical questions, please contact us by email at eplf@thebridgeleadership.org or call 08134985624
All the best.
Deadline: February 28, 2025, 11:59 PM (WAT)
resume
The document must be formatted in Adobe Acrobat PDF (pdf), all other file types will not be accepted.
The English CV should list the following elements in order of priority:
Your work experience with your most recent position listed first and dates of employment
Your qualifications, including any degrees obtained
Awards and distinctions if applicable
Publications if any (please do not include an exhaustive list)
Please do not submit CVs longer than 3 pages. Please note that once you have submitted your application, you will not be able to make any changes. We ask that you read the form carefully before submitting. Apply for the 2025 cohort: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe_R20Db3h3gtkKuaoIqfjn9XgLv047iVyZwsQEdKalQTwaww/viewform
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