Members of the founding class of the NUTM
Scholars Program (NSP) are currently partaking in the Shadow-a-Leader module, a
mentorship opportunity that allows the Scholars to work closely with and be
mentored by senior industry leaders.
‘Shadow–a–Leader’ is a six-week full-time module in which a Scholar is paired
with a senior leader based on their career interests and professional
background. Through the module, Scholars work within the boundaries of their associated organization, completing
tasks assigned by the leader. The
Scholars are expected to acquaint themselves with various leadership
styles, apply the critical
thinking and problem-solving
skills they have garnered during their time at NSP to grow, deliver on assigned tasks, and create
value for their assigned leader.
On the lessons learned from the module:
The most
important lesson thus far has been an understanding of the realities of the
startup ecosystem in Africa and around the world. I was fascinated by the
number of requirements that founders had to meet on a consistent basis in order
for the business to thrive. In addition, I learned about startup financing,
operations, and growth strategy.
Scholar: Chinonso Ezebuiro
Leader: Nadayar Enegesi, co-founder and CEO,
Eden Life
I’m learning how to conduct in-depth research and
extract useful political statistics from a variety of sources. It has been
difficult, especially given that my mentor is not directly in my field. I am,
however, benefiting from her wealth of experience. In essence, adaptability is
essential in the professional world.
Scholar: Comfort Ademola
Leader: Ayisha Osori,
Executive Director, Open Society Initiative West Africa
On how the Shadow A Leader
module will improve their experience on the NSP:
The Shadow A Leader module has provided a practical platform for the
application of some of our course knowledge. I’ve developed a critical and
analytical problem-solving mindset that will be useful in the remaining courses
and tasks before the program’s end.
Scholar: Elsie Ogianyo
Leader: Paul Onwuanibe,
MD/CEO, Landmark Group
The Shadow A Leader module has made the transfer of
learnings/knowledge from the classroom to the workplace a reality. Shadowing a
leader has allowed me to apply what I’ve learned in various courses to real-world
situations, particularly the Harappa habit courses, Foundations of Leadership,
Digital Transformation, and Writing Centre courses. Shadow A Leader has made my
NSP journey truly experiential.
Scholar: Comfort Ademola
Leader: Ayisha Osori,
Executive Director, Open Society Initiative West Africa