By Sani Idris Abdulrahman

An NGO, Women Initiative for  Sustainable Environment (WISE), has called for stronger intergenerational mentorship to develop responsible and effective future leaders.

The call was made during its two-day International Youth Day 2026 Webinar 1.0, with the theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.”

The webinar focused on “Unlocking Leadership Potential through Intergenerational Mentorship” and brought together professionals and participants to discuss leadership development.

Mrs Olanike Olugboji-Daramola, the Founder and Executive Director of WISE, said mentorship could help young people gain knowledge, confidence and practical understanding from experienced generations.

Olugboji-Daramola, who doubled as the host and panelist during the webinar, said meaningful interaction between generations could create opportunities for young people to learn from the experiences of those who had taken leadership responsibilities.

Olugboji-Daramola stressed that effective mentorship should encourage young people to ask questions, develop their abilities and make informed decisions about their future.

She also highlighted the importance of creating relationships where experienced individuals could guide younger people while remaining open to learning from them.

According to her, intergenerational mentorship should be built on trust, mutual respect and a willingness to share knowledge for the benefit of society.

She said stronger connections between generations could help bridge knowledge gaps and prepare young people to contribute positively to their communities.

Mr Ayoade Ayodele, a panelist, said young people required access to experienced individuals who could guide them through personal and leadership development.

Ayodele noted that mentorship could expose young people to practical experiences that were not always available through formal education.

He said young people could benefit greatly from understanding how experienced leaders handled challenges, responsibilities and changing circumstances.

The panelist encouraged young people to remain receptive to guidance while developing the confidence to express their own ideas and perspectives.

He said effective mentorship should not suppress young people’s creativity but should provide them with the foundation needed to use their talents responsibly.

Ayodele also called for stronger platforms that would bring experienced professionals and emerging leaders together for meaningful engagement and knowledge exchange.

Mrs Ngozi Babasanya-Craig, another panelist, said intergenerational relationships could promote greater understanding between young people and older members of society.

Babasanya-Craig emphasised that different generations possessed experiences and perspectives that could complement one another when properly harnessed.

She said young people should be encouraged to learn from previous generations while contributing fresh ideas to address contemporary challenges.

According to her, mentorship should create an environment where young people could develop their leadership abilities without losing their individual identities.

She encouraged experienced leaders to make themselves available to younger people seeking guidance, support and opportunities to grow.

Babasanya-Craig said stronger intergenerational collaboration would contribute to building communities where knowledge and leadership experience were continuously transferred.

Hajiya Hauwa Magayaki, a panelist, said empowering young people remained important to ensuring effective participation in leadership and community development.

Magayaki stressed that young people needed encouragement, guidance and opportunities to demonstrate their abilities in different areas of society.

She said mentorship could help young people understand the responsibilities associated with leadership and the importance of making decisions that benefit others.

The panelist encouraged experienced members of society to support younger generations by sharing lessons from their personal and professional experiences.

She said young people, on their part, should value opportunities to learn from others and remain committed to personal growth.

Magayaki added that sustained interaction between generations could strengthen leadership development and encourage young people to become positive contributors to society.

Mr Kennedy Dawi, also a panelist, said mentorship could play an important role in preparing young people for future leadership responsibilities.

Dawi said experienced leaders had a responsibility to share knowledge and experiences that could help younger generations navigate challenges.

He noted that leadership development required more than theoretical knowledge, stressing the importance of practical experience and guidance.

According to him, young people could develop stronger leadership capacity when they had access to people willing to provide constructive advice and encouragement.

He urged emerging leaders to take advantage of mentorship opportunities while remaining committed to learning, innovation and responsible service.

Dawi said effective intergenerational mentorship could help create a continuous leadership pipeline by preparing younger people to assume responsibilities when the need arose.

Mrs Christiana Akande, moderator of the webinar, guided discussions among the panelists and facilitated the exchange of views on leadership and mentorship.

The webinar provided participants with an opportunity to examine the importance of relationships between generations in developing leadership capacity.

The speakers agreed that mentorship should encourage knowledge sharing, personal development, confidence building and constructive engagement among different generations.

They also emphasised the need for platforms that would enable young people to interact with experienced professionals, community leaders and other role models.

The webinar formed part of activities marking the 2026 International Youth Day and reflected WISE’s focus on youth development and sustainable community engagement.

It also highlighted the importance of harnessing the strengths of different generations toward building inclusive societies and developing responsible leaders.