Educate the Future Leaders of Sierra Leone

It's my pleasure to bring you a summary report from Develop Africa's first Forward Thinking and Creative Leadership Conference & Workshop - held in partnership with the Excellent Student Network International, at the British Council - July 2012.

The conference was well attended with a total of 65 students.  Trainees came from different institutions such as Fourah Bay College, Institute of Public Administration and Management, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, etc.  The conference was also attended by non-registered participants and included guests from all works of life including, the Justice Sector, the World Bank, Save the Children and several other distinguished guests.

Participants in the conference learnt through an interactive workshop and training about what Forward Thinking and Creative leadership meant. Through active interaction, engagement and collaboration, participants engaged in dissecting case scenarios of critical challenges facing the African continent and suggested best practices and consultative steps using the mind-set of a forward-thinking  and a creative Leader.

Participants were divided into five distinct groups each presented with a set of facts that form a case scenario of a typical challenging issue confronted by Africa nations. Members of the group break-out and consultative sessions addressed the issues presented in the interactive case scenarios and reported their findings in the main conference auditorium in the afternoon session of the conference. Each group was presented with unique case scenarios to tackle and to make recommendations and best practices as Forward-thinking and Creative Leaders.

Dr. Jasmine Renner the conference facilitator and workshop speaker provided examples, characteristics and hands -on description of what a forward thinking and a creative leader is through interactive discussions with participants. Africa’s top ten billionaires and their stories on how they acquired wealth were creative and forward thinking was discussed. A case study of Nelson Mandela as a forward thinker leader was also presented for analysis and discussion.

The conference was very lively, interactive, engaging, impactful and timely as participants demonstrated through questions and answers about what it means to them to become and develop forward thinking leadership traits and creativity globally and in the African continent.

Each conference participant who attended the morning and afternoon sessions was presented with a certificate of completion by Develop Africa Inc.  Mr. Maada Massaquoi, Computer Instructor at Develop Africa/ FAWE lab in collaboration with Dr. Jasmine Renner presented the certificates of completion to each participant attendee.

Mr. Josie Kamara-Cole the President of the Excellent Student Network International was also presented with an Asus E netbook / laptop donated by Develop Africa for his tireless efforts, perseverance and organizational abilities.

The conference ended on a high note with participants all impacted and motivated to impact their  nation and generation through small incremental but gradual progression into solutions using forward thinking and creative leadership mindsets.

Thank you, sponsors, partners and donors for your selfless investment in developing human capacity.  Together, we are sowing seeds and positioning the youths / young adults of Africa to make history in their generation.