By JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Participants at the 13th Annual National Mentoring and Coaching Conference, organized by the Chartered Institute of Mentoring and Coaching Nigeria (CIMCN), have sounded a warning bell on the looming leadership crisis in Nigeria.
The conference, which took place from November 21st to 23rd, 2024, brought together experts from various fields to discuss the importance of mentoring and coaching in driving national development.
The conference theme, “Advancing Mentoring from a Multidisciplinary Perspective for National Development,” highlighted the need for a multidisciplinary approach to mentoring and coaching.
A communiqué issued at the end of the 3-day conference by Director General of CIMCN, Dr. Rotimi Mathew, revealed that participants engaged in discussions on how insights from various fields, such as economy, coaching, psychology, education, business, and technology, could enrich mentoring practices.
According to the communique, the keynote address, delivered by Dr. Ini Adiakpan, Fpmc, Honourable Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Welfare, Akwa Ibom State, emphasized the importance of mentorship and leadership in bridging gaps for inclusive development.
Other speakers, including Dr. Rotimi Mathew, Director General of CIMCN, also shared their expertise on mentoring niches for impact and attitudinal change and professionalism for peak performance.
The conference resolutions and calls to action emphasized the need for collective action to advance mentoring and coaching in Nigeria.
The resolutions included calls to the government to institutionalize mentoring and coaching, to professionals and leaders to advocate for ethical leadership and mentor the next generation, and to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to collaborate with educational institutions, government agencies, and the private sector to scale impactful mentoring and coaching programs.
The conference also emphasized the importance of promoting gender-sensitive mentoring, leveraging technology and digital tools to expand mentoring and coaching programs, and building awareness campaigns to emphasize mentoring’s importance in achieving national development goals.
In his concluding remarks at that conference, Dr. Rotimi reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to advancing mentoring and coaching as transformative tools for national growth, calling on all stakeholders to join the collective mission to promote mentoring and coaching in Nigeria.
The conference was attended by participants from various sectors, including government, education, business, and non-profit organizations.
The communique read in part, “As national development increasingly requires innovative and integrative approaches, this conference will bring together thought leaders, practitioners, and scholars to explore how mentoring can be a powerful catalyst for sustainable growth and progress.
“National President of CIMCN, Dr. Raheema Abdul-aziz Nyako, welcomed the participants and urged them to take every part of the conference seriously
“Dr. Ini Adiakpan, Fpmc, Honourable Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Welfare, Akwa Ibom State, delivered the keynote address on “Mentorship and Leadership: Bridging Gaps for Inclusive Development.”
“Dr. Rotimi Mathew, Director General of CIMCN, spoke on “Mentoring Niches for Impact” and “Attitudinal Change and Professionalism for Peak Performance” during the induction ceremony.
Other speakers include, Dr. Mustapha A Popoola, Fpmc, Maj. Gen WB, Etuk, Fpmc, Hajiya Maryam Aliko Mohammed, Fpmc, Dr. Bamidele Joseph, Fpmc, Dr. Raheema Abdul-Nyako, Dr. Temi Ajibewa, Fpmc and Coach Ayoshola David Ogunojo, Fpmc, also spoke on the theme of the conference.
“The conference call on government: institutionalize mentoring and coaching, develop policies, and allocate resources to support mentoring initiatives.
“The conference call on professionals and leaders to advocate for ethical leadership, mentor the next generation, and champion mentoring across disciplines.
“To Non-governmental organizations, there is the need for effective collaboration with educational institutions, government agencies, and the private sector to scale impactful mentoring and coaching programs.
“To policymakers, the conference wants them to incorporate mentoring into policies, ensure supportive legislation, and promote mentoring as a vehicle for youth empowerment and community development.
“The Conference also calls on stakeholders in public and private institutions to invest in workforce development, foster multidisciplinary collaboration, and leverage technology to expand mentoring and coaching programs, among others.”
The Chairperson of the Local Organizing Committee, Tpl. Omolara Esther Mathew, Fpmc, commended the participants and reaffirmed that CIMCN is a professional body dedicated to promoting mentoring and coaching in Nigeria.
