Kalu advocates mentorship trainings for young political leaders
By Tom Okpe
Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep Benjamin Okezie Kalu has called for more resources, for mentoring and training of young political leaders, who will take over governance and public service in future.
Kalu made the call on Monday in Abuja during the opening session of a fellowship program by the Legislative Mentorship Initiative, (LMI) with topic: ‘Effective Parliamentary Debating and Public Speaking.’
The programme, under the aegis of National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, (NILDS) was conceived by former Speaker of the 9th House, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Kalu lectured the participants on how best to be good parliamentarian, and how to overcome fears and nervousness while making presentations.
Speaking on best ways to sponsor successful motions on the floor of parliament, the Deputy Speaker highlighted and explored a few key elements which he said are fundamentals of parliamentary debating, without which, a motion could suffer defeat and rejection, at plenary.
“Parliamentary debates follow structured format that involves different roles and time allocations for speeches. Understanding the format will enable you, navigate debates, effectively,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker also identified the key elements in legislative engagements at the floor of the Parliament to include, conducting thorough research on the topic of the debate; consulting experts in the field or individuals who have specialized knowledge on the topic and many more.
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“In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, the ability to communicate effectively, and persuasively is crucial in various fields, including politics, business, and academia.
“Whether you aspire to be a politician, business leader, or public speaker, mastering the art of parliamentary debating and public speaking will greatly enhance your ability to influence and inspire others.
“I commend the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chief of Staff to the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rep Femi Gbajabiamila, and all hands that made this happen.
“I will always be a part of this. For the future of Nigeria, We need the resources in this great minds. I’m delighted to be part of this, I look forward to come here again next year,” Kalu added.
Highlights of the masterclass was a short presentation on an impromptu topic: “Domestic Violence and How to Curb it,” with each participating group winning a cash prize of N100,000 from the Office of the Deputy Speaker.
