Leadership: U.S. embassy official wants prefect positions in schools elective
Prefect
By Collins Yakubu-Hammer
Abuja, Aug. 13, 2018 (NAN) Ms Bella Ndubuisi, Cultural Affairs Specialist, U.S. Embassy, Abuja, has advised that students seeking positions as prefects in schools in Nigeria should campaign and be elected to such positions.
Ndubuisi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja that such would serve as training ground to achieve effective leadership and accountability at a higher level of political endeavour.
She said that positions like Head Boy, Head Girl, Labour, Health, Games Prefects and others would have more effect if interested students contested for the positions.
“Currently we have a situation in Nigeria where we are not fully preparing or equipping our prefects with the tools that they need to be successful. Prefect positions in schools should be contested.
“I think that even at that lower level, the prefects need to understand the roles and challenges they are interested in tackling; they need to be provided tools they need in tackling these challenges.
“At that level, we should be teaching these students leadership and accountability; we need to open their minds to explore ideas and be innovative as far as how to solve challenges.
“This will be beneficial to the country when they eventually assume political positions at the federal or state level,’’ she said.
The cultural affairs specialist said that Nigeria needed to build on the already existing system to prepare young people who might be interested in politics to gain practical experience.
According to her, through a legislative internship programme, young Nigerians can be provided with practical experience in leadership at the national assembly level or even at the state legislatures.
“If we have this system and young people are interested, they can then sign up maybe during their holidays or attached to a particular legislator.
“This will help them learn all the nooks and crannies so that we don’t have a situation where they will say young people don’t have experience.
“However, young people also need to join political parties to influence the system and also ensure the emergence of credible candidates that will contest for elections,’’ she said.
Ndubisi stressed the importance of youth participation in politics and the need for them to start early from primary and secondary schools. (NAN)
CMY/MUYI/TA
Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh/Tajudeen Atitebi