An NGO, Women Initiative for Sustainable Environment (WISE), has called for stronger intergenerational mentorship to develop responsible and effective future leaders.
WISE made the call during its International Youth Day 2026 Webinar 1.0, on Thursday 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 host and a panelist said meaningful interaction between generations creates opportunities for young people to learn from the leadership experiences of older persons who had been leaders.
Olugboji-Daramola said effective mentorship encourages young people to ask questions, develop abilities and make informed decisions about their future.
She further said relationships with experienced individuals guide younger people to better learning.
According to her, intergenerational mentorship which bridges knowledge gaps should be built on trust, mutual respect and a willingness to share knowledge for the benefit of society.
Mr Ayoade Ayodele, a panelist, said young people required access to experienced individuals to access guidance through personal and leadership development.
Ayodele noted that mentorship exposes young people to practical experiences 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 provide the foundation for talent application responsibly.
Mrs Ngozi Babasanya-Craig, another panelist, said intergenerational relationships could promote greater understanding between young people and older members of society.
Babasanya-Craig emphasized 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.
She encouraged experienced leaders to make themselves available to younger people seeking guidance, support and opportunities to grow.
Another panelist, Hajiya Hauwa Magayaki, 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.
Magayaki added that sustained interaction between generations could strengthen leadership development and turn young people to 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.
Mrs Christiana Akande, moderator of the webinar, said the event provided participants the opportunity to examine the importance of relationships between generations in developing leadership capacity.
The participants agreed that mentorship should encourage knowledge sharing, personal development, confidence building and constructive engagement among different generations.
They also emphasized the need for young people to interact with experienced professionals, community leaders and other role models.
The webinar was part of events marking the 2026 International Youth Day and reflected WISE’s focus on youth development and sustainable community engagement.(NAN).
