Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff of President Bola Tinubu, has said he did not have mentors in a formal setting while growing up.
Gbajabiamila, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, said this at the launch of the third cohort of trainees for the Legislative Mentorship Institute (LMI).
He encouraged the 50 participants to seize opportunities to uplift others, stressing that true leadership is measured by how many people one can elevate.
He said: “The great thing about leadership is how many people you pull up. As we try to pull you up, my prayer is that in your time, use whatever you learned here to pull others up. The road ahead will not always be smooth, but it is by overcoming these obstacles that true leaders are made.
“You are not just joining the LMI programme, you are becoming part of the family, my family. The LIM began with the first cohort in 2022, expanded with the second cohort in 2023, and now embraces you as the third. This is a new beginning, not just for you, but for LMI. It is a new chapter in our collective journey towards shaping the future of Nigeria and Africa at large.
“Out of over 5000 applicants, you are among the 50 that were selected. I hope and pray that you see it as a privilege and not as a right because there are no rights in this world. Everything is a privilege either from God or from someone for whatever reason.
“I want to charge you to make every single day that you are here count for something. You are not here because you are lucky neither are you here because you are better. You have been chosen because we see in you, the potential to lead and drive positive change. I encourage you to embrace the challenges that lie ahead and to continue to push the boundaries of what you believe is possible.
“When I was growing up, I didn’t have the privilege of having people mentor me in a formal setting aside from the mentorship you get from your parents. I wish I had such mentorship of how things work in public office, especially in legislative business. I am glad that what I could not get, I am able to impact others. Leadership is not about titles, but about inspiring others to grow and achieve greatness alongside you.”
