Mombasa: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has inaugurated its first cohort of the IGAD Leadership Academy (ILA), aimed at nurturing a new generation of visionary, ethical, and inclusive leaders to drive regional integration and sustainable development. ILA was established in 2022 to facilitate the mentorship and provisioning of future leaders with the critical skill sets necessary to steer the course of a rapidly developing multi-cultural African society in the 21st century and beyond.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Academy is rooted in the principle that Africa requires home-based solutions to its unique challenges. It focuses on developing visionary, ethical, and gender-responsive leaders through training, mentorship, and peer-learning. The first cohort comprises 30 youths competitively selected from a pool of 3000 applicants from the eight IGAD member states: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.
The four-day intensive training at the Kenya School of Government, Mombasa campus, is designed to equip emerging leaders with the skills, values, and strategic insights needed to tackle governance challenges and drive transformation. IGAD plans to have three cohorts by the end of 2025. IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workeneh Gebeyehu said when he unveiled the programme in Mombasa, that they came up with the Academy, not by chance or due to a lack of a leadership school in the region, but to deepen integration and address common challenges facing the bloc that are not confined to the sovereign territory of a single country.
Dr. Gebeyehu explained, ‘This integration has missed one key element; – human integration, mind integration, which ultimately means the leadership integration. That’s why we came up with this Leadership Academy.’ He encouraged the selected outstanding youths to exuberate their intellectual capability to the region and help it to surmount challenges. ‘One thing which I ask you humbly is to know how to communicate with each other. This is not just a training. This is a call to lead,’ he said, adding that the future of the region rests in the hands of its young people.
Dr. Gebeyehu further noted that the region, though rich in culture, talent, and opportunity, faces challenges that require bold leadership and united action. ‘You’re the generation that will redefine what is possible through innovation, courage, and collaboration; you can change not only your communities but the entire region,’ he stated. The youths will be taken through a comprehensive curriculum that, according to Dr. Workneh, will take the region to the aspirations of the founding fathers of the nations.
The Executive Director also championed for unity of purpose and intellect to narrow the gap among African states and to be competitive economically, and diplomatically amid a complex world. He thanked the Government of Japan for sponsoring the programme that would transform the region’s youth. Ms. Yoki Mochizuki, from the Embassy of Japan in Kenya, stated that the Horn of Africa faces significant challenges from ongoing conflicts and post-conflict transitions, aiming to establish democratic governance according to the post-conflict peace agreements.
‘This instability underscores the critical need to develop individuals who can champion peace and stability. Recognising that regional conflicts are rarely isolated incidents and often involve complex interdependencies between nations. Regional multi-facet approach is essential,’ she said. To achieve a long-lasting peace and stability in the Horn of Africa, she added, it necessitates a long-term perspective encompassing diverse stakeholders, including women who are often disproportionately affected by conflicts.
Ms. Mochizuki affirmed the Government of Japan’s commitment to strengthening peace through the Leadership Programme by cultivating leaders equipped with strategic thinking, communication, decision-making, and fostering strong ethical principles, a clear vision, and a deep commitment to democratic values. She said the selected participants, represented the best across the IGAD member states, and they embodied untapped potential to address leadership gaps in the region. ‘Their contributions will be invaluable in advancing peace, economic development, and realistic governance,’ she said.