The Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) emerged in 1988 as a result of the need to have a formidable and committed Africa led, Africa managed and Africa initiated organization where leaders could meet and exchange experiences with the view to improving their performance. ALF was thus established as an expression of commitment to contributing in a constructive and positive way to the search for solution to some of these problems, by developing leadership capabilities in Africa in order to increase output in government, the parliament, the business, the civil society and to create conditions conducive for the development of the continent in an environment of peace, stability and security.
In last 20 years of its existence, ALF has contributed immensely towards the development of the continent. Some of its significant initiative includes the design and promotion of the Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa (CSSDCA), which was adopted by Organisation of African Unity, OAU (now African Union) in year 2000 at Lome, Togo during the Assembly of African Heads of States and Government. ALF remains to date, the first and only civil society organization that has performed such a feat, the creation of The Africa Women Forum (AWF) which seeks to identify and establish a medium through which it can challenge ideas and create networking opportunities. The AWF has been convened over four times now; one of the thematic thrust of the meetings include the Regional Conference on African Women and NEPAD. Furthermore, ALF has organized training conferences, workshops and capacity building sessions for young and old leaders from various walks of life in the area of entrepreneurship, leadership, and management. Beneficiaries of these trainings have at some point become political and business leaders, and successful entrepreneurs, in Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Republic of Benin and Namibia among others.
ALF facilitated the formation of Economic Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) which was inaugurated in July 2004 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This body has been a crucial advisory organ of the African Union. The inauguration of the Economic Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union (AU) as one of the advisory organs of the African Union marked the beginning of a new phase in the Union’s activities. ECOSOCC was designed as a coordination and networking tool for the participation of the civil society in the activities of the African Union Government. The launch, thus paved the way in an unprecedented manner for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Africa to continuously participate actively in the governance processes in Africa.
In consolidation of our activities, the year 2008 was quite a unique and dynamic year for us. It is unique in the sense that the organisation marked its 20th Anniversary of dynamic existence. As part of ALF efforts at developing and enhancing leadership capacity for private sectors and young leaders, 2008 also marked the year ALF trained thousands of Nigeria youths, FBOs, CBOs, CSOs, NYSC merit awardees, female lawyers and media practitioners, in the area entrepreneurship and leadership skills. ALF in fulfilling its mandate categorized its leadership programmes into a series of; junior level of leadership, middle level of leadership and senior level of leadership. At junior level of leadership, the forum concentrates on young Africans or Nigerians depending on the programme particularly students in higher institutions and position of authority and influence. Part of the programme executed under this level was the Junior Business Seminar. The establishment of the Junior Business Seminar in 1991 came as result of the need to respond to a perceived problem in the society. Through the JBS, young graduates were sensitized on the opportunities that are available within their economy for private initiatives. The seminar brought young people together for a period of one year and the idea was to stimulate their imagination to become potential entrepreneurs. The success of this programme can be attested by Fredrick Nuaman Foundation which adopted it as its flagish programme in Ghana, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Benin Republic. JBS also led to the founding of Business School of Netherlands, Nigeria in 2003. Business School Netherlands in Nigeria (BSN) is a limited liability educational services company registered in Nigeria (co-owned by Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) and BSN Africa Limited). It is a specialist business school rigorously practicing the scientific learning methodology of Action Learning
The activities of ALF within the reporting year transcended tremendously especially its engagements on several issues, and particularly its involvement as the implementing agency of the Central Bank of Nigeria Entrepreneurship Development Programme in the Southwest region of Nigeria. The Entrepreneurship Development Centre (EDC) Lagos is one of the three training centers established by the Central bank of Nigeria. The mandate of the EDC is to equip the trainees with the needed leadership, micro-enterprise development and basic business management skills, and render business development services to qualify them for loans from various financial institutions to run their businesses successfully, the African Leadership Forum has identified that the skills gap is not fully filled without a ready-made fund for the beneficiaries of this training programme. To address this lacuna, ALF signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the First Bank of Nigeria to provide loans to the graduates of the centre. The MOU, which gave birth to what is popular called State Growth Enterprise Development (STAGE) Fund,came at a time when experts are claiming that credits will facilitate investment and economic growth.
In addition to its successful organizing of 5 consecutive Democratic Leadership Training Workshop (DLTW) for different groups in 2008 as can be seen in the project report section, ALF also implemented a High Level Technical Workshop on Affforestation in Africa for the Center for Human Security (CHS) of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in collaboration with the Nigeria Tree Planters. ALF also in March 2008 launched the Inaugural Africa-wide essay competition for Africa university undergraduates, for the Centre for Human Security, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
Within the years ahead and in recognition of the political leadership crisis in countries like Guinea – Conakry, Somalia, Zimbabwe, and Democratic Republic of Congo, and couple with the global financial meltdown, ALF is presently working towards expanding the scope of its democratic leadership capacity building and entrepreneurship development skills to these affected countries in Africa. However, the success of this to a large extent depends on availability of fund.
Let me also use this opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation to our partners and donors for your supports and commitments over the years.
Ayodele Aderinwale, MFR
Executive Director
