Group unveils Africa civic leadership fellowship

n n

The Church on the Street NG has unveiled the 2026 Civic Africa Fellowship, a leadership and global citizenship programme designed to equip young Africans with the skills, knowledge and networks needed to drive positive change across the continent.

n

The organisation, in a statement made available to Saturday PUNCH, on Friday, stated that the fellowship aimed to empower young people to become active citizens, policy influencers and solution providers in their communities.

n

According to the statement, the initiative comes at a time when Africa has the world’s youngest population and seeks to reposition young people from being beneficiaries of development programmes to becoming drivers of social transformation.

n

The statement said the fellowship would bring together outstanding young leaders from diverse backgrounds who are passionate about leadership, civic engagement, community development, social innovation and public service.

n

Speaking on the launch, the Founder of the organisation, Itofa Ivarah, said Africa’s future would be shaped not by its challenges but by the quality of leaders willing to confront them.

n

He explained that the fellowship drew inspiration from global citizenship principles and civic leadership models that encourage young people to think critically, act ethically and engage constructively with local and global challenges.

n

Ivarah added that participants would undergo mentorship, leadership workshops, collaborative projects and a residency aimed at strengthening their leadership capacity and civic engagement.

n

The organisation also called on development partners, educators, policymakers, civil society organisations and youth-focused institutions to collaborate in building a stronger ecosystem for youth leadership and civic participation across Africa.

n

According to the statement, the launch of the Civic Africa Fellowship marks another milestone in Church on the Street NG’s mission to empower communities, nurture emerging leaders and create sustainable pathways for social transformation across the continent.

n n