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Proposed programme · Partnerships invited
Future Leaders Fellowship
A proposed three-month hybrid training and mentorship programme for young adults interested in leadership, civic engagement and community problem-solving.
Duration
3 months
Hybrid delivery format
Cohort
30 – 50 fellows
Drawn from Rivers State
Location
Rivers State
Virtual modules plus in-person sessions
Status
Proposed
Partnerships invited
The Problem Being Addressed
Civic capability is rarely taught, and rarely practised before it is needed.
Young adults are asked to participate responsibly in community and public life without ever having practised the underlying skills — reading a budget, facilitating a contested conversation, mapping stakeholders, or taking a proposal through to a decision. The Fellowship is designed to make those skills practised rather than theoretical.
Target Participants
Young adults drawn from Rivers State
Graduates, grassroots organisers and NGO personnel
Civil society workers and community volunteers
Participants demonstrating ethical leadership and readiness to join a structured cohort
Location and duration
Proposed three-month hybrid programme combining virtual modules with in-person sessions in Port Harcourt.
Programme Architecture
Proposed Programme Blueprint and Core Pillars
Four calibrated components bridging the gap between idealistic youthful drive and practical, institutional public stewardship.
Pillar 01
Virtual Leadership and Ethics Modules
Synchronous online masterclasses and case-study deliberations on anti-corruption frameworks, municipal fiscal policy, constitutional integrity and transparent public accountability.
Pillar 02
In-Person Intensive Sessions
Residential or day-format sessions in Port Harcourt anchored in high-stress scenario war-gaming, negotiation roundtables and intimate fireside keynotes with experienced civil servants and community leaders.
Pillar 03
Simulated Town-Hall Practice
Fellows draft private member bills, defend budget allocations, handle constituent petitions and debate legislative amendments in a structured, nonpartisan setting.
Pillar 04
Capstone Community Interventions
No theoretical diplomas. Fellows form cross-LGA squads to execute real-world civic micro-projects addressing clean water access, youth literacy or local enterprise protection.
Delivery Sequence
Proposed 12-Week Curriculum Structure
A structured, progressive journey transforming personal discipline into institutional policy and grassroots execution.
Weeks 01 – 04 · Phase 01
Self-Mastery and Public Ethics
Foundational grounding in deontological ethics, character under pressure, and systemic-historical realities of Nigerian governance.
Moral philosophy and the burden of public trust
Emotional intelligence and principled negotiation
Anti-corruption toolkits and statutory reporting
Weeks 05 – 08 · Phase 02
Grassroots Problem Solving and Civic Policy
Deep immersion into state budget mechanisms, municipal ordinances, data analysis and citizen engagement models.
State budgets: from appropriation to LGA execution
Participatory policymaking and town-hall facilitation
Data-driven diagnostics for municipal challenges
Weeks 09 – 12 · Phase 03
Capstone Mobilisation and Advocacy
Field implementation and ward-level stakeholder buy-in, followed by impact measurement and transparent reporting.
Field mobilisation and ward-level stakeholder buy-in
Impact measurement, auditing and transparent reporting
Final capstone showcase at an ELC-linked civic forum
Expected Outcomes
What participants should be able to do afterwards
Fellows can read, interrogate and explain a local government budget line
Fellows can facilitate a contested community conversation without escalating it
Each cross-LGA squad delivers one documented civic micro-project
Fellows enter a continuing alumni network with named mentors
Relevant SDGs
SDG 4 — Quality Education · SDG 16 — Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Status
Proposed programme. Targets, facilitators, grants and delivery partners must be confirmed before the programme is advertised.
Take Action
Get Involved With This Programme
Whether you are a prospective participant or an institution able to support delivery, there is a defined route below.
For aspiring fellows
Apply to the Candidate Pipeline
Submit an early expression of interest to receive the formal application packet and civic-alumni whitepaper prior to cohort onboarding.
What you will be asked
Your full name and preferred contact details
Your location or local government area in Rivers State
Your background and why this programme fits you
Any accessibility needs we should plan for
Opens the official FDI form in a new tab.
For corporate and institutional partners
Co-Sponsor a Cohort
Empower an entire fellowship track of fellows through your organisation’s CSR mandate. Support residential retreats, capstone volunteer funding and civic technology resources.
What you will be asked
Organisation name, sector and contact lead
The kind of support you are able to provide
The shared outcome you want to achieve
Your preferred next step and timeline
Submitting an enquiry does not create a partnership. The secretariat will respond to agree scope, roles and reporting.
Clarifications
Key Operational Details
Answers to the questions most often raised by participants, schools and prospective partners.
Who is eligible?
The Fellowship seeks high-integrity individuals demonstrating verifiable early commitment to public welfare, social enterprise or civic transformation in Rivers State. Final criteria will be published with the application form.
Is the Fellowship free?
[CONFIRM FELLOWSHIP COST OR SUBSIDY ARRANGEMENT BEFORE PUBLICATION.] Any grant or stipend component must remain unpublished until resources and approvals are secured.
Is the programme partisan?
No. Civic activities remain strictly nonpartisan. The programme creates space for learning and dialogue without endorsing political parties or becoming a campaign platform.
How many fellows are admitted?
The blueprint proposes a cohort of 30 to 50 participants. This is a planned target, not an achieved result.
Support This Programme
Partner in cultivating Rivers State’s next generation.
Whether you are a rising civic steward ready to lead or an institution committed to sustainable governance, join the 2026 fellowship network.
Fasttrack Development Initiative (FDI)
A Port Harcourt-based nonprofit organisation developing responsible leaders, expanding opportunity and supporting community-driven progress through education, enterprise, inclusion and civic engagement.
No. 314 NTA Road, Mgbuoba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
info@fasttrackdi.org emergingleaders@fasttrackdi.org +234 803 668 7321 +234 806 484 2664Follow FDI on Facebook
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