A Season of Impact: Navigating Leadership and Making a Difference.

In the realm of leadership, value is derived as long as it delivers results, irrespective of the challenges we face. This belief has always guided my quest for excellence in leadership across various dimensions, whether it's self-leadership, managing teams, or orchestrating strategy and operations. These principles remain steadfast even today.

Over the past year and beyond, I've had the privilege of undertaking diverse leadership roles and contributing to significant changes. Let's explore this journey, the valuable lessons learned, and how these experiences can serve as a subtle guide for young women aspiring to excel in the field of international development.

Elevating Monitoring and Evaluation Leadership

In the realm of monitoring and evaluation (M&E), my unwavering commitment to excellence led to consistent data collection. This data was more than just numbers; it was a wellspring of vital insights guiding our strategic decisions and keeping our projects steadfastly aligned with their objectives.

But leadership in M&E transcends data collection; it also encompasses securing the essential resources for our initiatives to thrive. Over the past year, I spearheaded efforts to secure grants and funding crucial for the sustainability of impactful projects—a lesson in resilience and resourcefulness.

My commitment to excellence extended to the meticulous maintenance and administration of the M&E database. It was not merely about data; it was about the systematic analysis and aggregation of findings, affirming my dedication to precision and constant improvement.

Supporting project progress reporting, mid-term reviews, and final evaluations wasn't just about generating reports; it was about ensuring that projects had tangible, real-world impacts—a lesson in accountability and impact-driven leadership.

Fostering Partnerships, Managing Relationships, and Leading with Purpose

One of the most remarkable feats achieved during this journey was being at the helm of a diverse team comprising 3,500 professionals. This leadership extended across Northern Nigeria, spanning more than 200 Local Government Areas, leaving an indelible mark on lives and communities—a testament to the power of visionary leadership.

My leadership journey transcended borders, reaching a global scale through partnerships with the largest telecommunications company in Africa. These partnerships weren't just collaborations; they were with industry giants, elevating initiatives to unprecedented heights—an illustration of the potential of strategic partnerships.

Moreover, the organization I had the privilege of leading wasn't just an ordinary entity; it was a distinguished Learning and Development institution with an impressive 40-year legacy. Its influence spanned across an astonishing 55 countries, offering inspiration for young women seeking global impact.

In this leadership role, I provided strategic direction, ideation, and effective problem-solving. We optimized strategies to align with business objectives, ensuring that resources were allocated purposefully to achieve sales targets. Managing a partnership with a global telecommunications company emphasized the importance of mutually beneficial collaborations and implementing strategies that enhance motivation and retention within an organization—a powerful lesson in leadership with purpose.

Empowering Creativity, Learning, and Impact

In the same realm, I embarked on a transformative journey to empower the creative industry. Overseeing and devising the roadmap and strategic direction on the 5-year project funded by the MasterCard Foundation, I led initiatives that left an indelible impact on Kano, Lagos, and Ogun States.

My focus was on crafting innovative and effective customer engagement strategies, training programs, and placement initiatives—a lesson in creativity and innovation. I also played a pivotal role in promoting talent by introducing talent show initiatives, post-training programs, and job readiness schemes.

Through this role, I had the privilege of creating robust training content designed for effective delivery both online and offline. My responsibilities included identifying suitable work placements for trainees, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and facilitating placements that led to meaningful apprenticeships—an inspiring example of empowering young women to forge their paths in the creative industry.

While developing the organization’s roadmap for partnership and placement across the implementing states, design thinking and process flow documentation for mobilizers engagement, placement, partnership, and training. I also took the lead in mobilizing and supporting over a thousand youths aged 16-35 to enroll in online courses, contributing significantly to capacity development within the creative sector—a testament to the potential of mentorship and skill-building. These initiatives laid the foundation for the work on the project to ensure the growth of young people in the creative sector.

A Journey of Learning and Growth

My journey in the past year wasn't limited to leadership and relationship management. As a Monitoring and Evaluation Intern, I embraced opportunities for continuous learning and skill enhancement.

I engaged in ongoing education, completing essential courses that honed my M&E skills—an illustration of the importance of lifelong learning. My contributions to learning sessions aimed to enhance training methods and service delivery—an encouragement for young women to actively participate in their professional growth.

Researching and providing recommendations for program improvement became an integral part of my role, demonstrating the value of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Active support for various initiatives, including activity log events, administration, and learning, contributed to the overall efficiency of the organization—an acknowledgment of the significance of contributing to the broader organizational mission.

In conclusion, the past year has been a journey marked by growth, impact, and a resolute commitment to excellence in leadership. Leadership, in all its forms, serves as a guiding light for young women aspiring to excel in international development.

While leadership takes many shapes, it always centers around people, strategy, and operations. Young women can find inspiration in the journey—knowing that value can be derived from every effort, bringing them one step closer to their goals. As long as there is value to be created, young women can aspire to excellence in leadership, contributing to positive change and growth on the international stage.