by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Trustee/Executive Director of Sentinel Oasis for Love and Care Initiative (SOLCI), Haroun Harry Audu, has asserted that, the future of communities, state, and Nigerian nation “will be shaped by the quality of leadership that emerges from the present generation of young people.”
He made this disclosure during a 2nd Edition of SOLCI Youth Servant Leadership Training and Round-Table at Gidan Bege, which held in Jos on Thursday, with a theme, ‘From Voice to Impact: Advancing Youth Influence for Social Good.’
According to Haroun Audu, “Nigeria stands at a remarkable moment in history. According to recent United Nations population estimates, Nigeria’s median age is only about 18 years, making it one of the youngest nations in the world.
“While more than 60 percent of our population is made up of young people, this means that the greatest resource of Nigeria is not the oil, tin, or gold or indeed any other mineral buried beneath the ground, important as all of these are.”
He stressed that, “The greatest resource of Nigeria is our young people, scattered in classrooms, worship centers, business areas, streets and communities across this nation.
“Yet, history teaches us that a youthful population can either become a demographic dividend or a demographic disaster. What makes the difference is leadership.
“What makes the difference is character. What makes the difference is whether young people choose to become problem-solvers, idle grumblers, or merely problem-observers,” he stated.
He disclosed further that, “Far too often, we hear discussions about what government should do, what community leaders should do, and what society should do.
“Those conversations are important. But servant leadership begins when a young person asks a different set of questions: What can I do? What responsibility can I take? What problem can I help solve?”
He maintained confidence that, “The theme of this year’s programme, ‘From Voice to Impact: Advancing Youth Influence for Social Good,’ is, therefore, both timely and urgent.
“We live in an age where everyone has a voice. Through technology and social media, it has become easier than ever to express opinions. But societies are not transformed by opinions alone,” he noted.
Mr Haroun Harry Audu further stated that “Communities are changed when voices become actions, when ideas become initiatives, and when influence becomes service.
“That is precisely why SOLCI exists. We believe that leadership is not first about power. It is about responsibility. It is not first about position; it is about service. It is not first about being noticed, it is about making a difference,” he stated.
He also noted that, “This conviction inspired the first cohort of Sentinels whom we trained in 2025. What encouraged us most was not merely their participation in the leadership sessions.
“It was their decision to translate this learning into action through the ‘Community Clean-up Challenge.’ Their commitment to environmental sanitation and community responsibility demonstrates that leadership does not begin when someone gives you authority. Leadership begins when you accept responsibility for the condition of your community,” he disclosed.
He charged the participants not to leave the programme merely inspired, saying, “Leave transformed, leave with a cause greater than themselves, leave determined to solve at least one problem in your community.
“Perhaps your cause will be environmental sanitation. Perhaps it will be education, peace-building, entrepreneurship, community development, ethical leadership, or youth mentorship.
“Whatever form it takes, let your influence produce measurable impact. Imagine what could happen, if all the young people gathered here today each committed themselves to improving the lives of just one hundred others over the next five years (twenty per year),” he urged.
The Executive Director said together, they would have directly influenced on seven thousand lives, and those seven thousand would in turn influence many more.
According to him, “That is how social transformation begins – not through grand speeches and massive crowds, but through ordinary people making extraordinary commitments to service.”
He said, SOLCI, dream extends beyond training programmes; they envision a growing movement of servant leaders across Plateau State and beyond.
“While young men and women are known not for entitlement, but for excellence; not for cynicism, but for hope; not for selfish ambition, but for sacrificial service,” he said, adding that, “The future is not something that will simply happen to us. It is something that we must help shape.”
Speaking also, the keynote speaker, Miss Keren Rachael Danjan, who is Secretary, Board of Trustees, SOLCI/Senior Legislative Assistant of the Speaker House of Representatives Abuja, urged the participants to choose the Kind of Nigerian they want to be.
She emphasized the importance of choosing the kind of Nigerian one wants to be, regardless of sex or other personal attributes.
The speaker asserts that wickedness is not honored by God, suggesting that moral alignment is crucial, adding that the theme of leadership and community impact has a focus on personal preparation and reflection.
While stating that, the concept of being compassionate, honest, and excellent is a collective effort, she argued that “Nations do not become great by accident but through the collective reflection of citizens’ values, choices, and actions.
“There is the need for us to change Nigeria, but individual and collective actions are essential,” and highlighted the importance of aligning personal actions with national goal and values.
She also highlighted the need for collective reflection, values, choices, and actions of citizens to make a nation great, and emphasized that individual mindset changes are crucial before societal transformations.
Even as she introduced the concept of “influence, ideology, and the destructive nature of hot takes, particularly within families,” she equally stressed the importance of empowering others through influence.
Speaking on the Power of Social Media and Innovation, Miss Keren Danjan noted that, the unprecedented access young people have to information and influence platforms, and observed that a single social media post can reach millions and become a movement in a short time.
The speaker shared a personal anecdote about a young man, who built a successful business, despite initial setbacks, emphasizing the importance of internal capacity-building and skill development.
According to her, the session aims to explore how individuals have used their voices and actions to impact their communities, both with and without social media.
She said, with their contributions and the impact they have made, that has encouraged them to move, from complaints to contributions, from criticism to contribution, building a better society.
She also challenges participants to move from criticism of societal problems to actively addressing them, emphasizing the need for reconstruction and nation-building.
Miss Danjan further stressed the need that personal accountability begins with oneself and, that, every decision and action contributes to the larger societal impact.
While defining patriotism as responsible citizenship, involving emotional, ethical, and transformational aspects, she encouraged them to contribute to their country’s development.
She also outlined three levels of patriotism: emotional, love for the country – ethically doing what is right; and transformational – using talent and resources to improve society.
She also expressed belief in the participants’ commitment to building Nigeria to global standards and emphasized that “Change begins with individual actions.”
While highlighting that leadership and community building do not require a public stage or recognition, she added that, individuals can contribute significantly by their actions alone.
She speaker encouraged participants to try new things and not be afraid of failure, emphasizing that “Efforts and contributions are more important than the outcome.”