Yali Network Kwara Blog

Oluwaseun Ojo Situation Report (Sitrep) The most popular event in today's Nigeria is the preparation for the 2023 general election. A lot has been set rolling by our dear politicians whose energy for politics and safeguarding their political interests (their greatest assets) never waver. The public, the victim of the chaos parading the unsettling street of our wounded country, who are at the same time the most affected by the 2023 general election result are firmly on their feet, prepared to make a right choice (or a right guess), and are on a lookout anticipating their choice of a best candidate to be right. Nigerians are posed with the challenges of taking a decisive step in picking who is going hold the steering, driving the rickety vehicle of this nation across the rollercoasterish road ahead for the next four (or eight) years. The competence of whoever emerge has a lot to do with the likely experiences and general safety of the passengers in the vehicle during the journey. So,

Interviewer: Ogbonlaiye Oluwaseyi (Director of Programs, YALI Network, Kwara) Interviewee: Oluwaseyi Dara (Past (and first) State Coordinator, YALI Network, Kwara) __________________________________________ INTERVIEWER: We have been hearing about YALI? Can you tell us what YALI is all about?  SEYI DARA: As the name implies, YALI is Young African Leaders Initiative. It is a U.S. programme meant to spur growth amongst African youths in the area of business, civic leadership, and public leadership. So over the years, I think YALI started around 2010. They did a pilot phase of it, and then the fellowship kick-started in 2014. That is the Mandela Washington fellowship. So YALI has 3 umbrellas. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is an exchange program where you travel out of the country for those that are selected. Then, the Regional Leadership Center. Each zone, each region, has that. The West region is in Accra, Ghana. Then, is southern, which is in South Africa. Then another one in the nor