By Chioma James
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, has intensified efforts to strengthen professional competence and ethical journalism with a proposed strategic partnership with the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD).
The partnership move was formalised during a courtesy visit by the NUJ FCT Council to the leadership of Centre LSD in Abuja, signaling the beginning of what both organisations described as a mutually beneficial collaboration focused on leadership development, accountability and good governance.
Receiving the NUJ delegation, the Executive Director of Centre LSD, Mr. Monday Osasah, reaffirmed the organisation’s readiness to partner with the Council in delivering structured training, retraining and mentorship programmes for journalists in the Federal Capital Territory.
Mr. Osasah explained that the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, established in 2003, was founded with a clear mandate to empower citizens to transform society through strategic leadership and governance reforms.
According to him, the Centre’s interventions are anchored on addressing three fundamental gaps in Africa’s development space — the absence of strategic leadership, lack of clear strategy, and inappropriate leadership culture.
He disclosed that the Centre runs a leadership school that offers free training programmes, with no fewer than 3,211 beneficiaries so far.
He added that training centres are currently operational in Benin, Warri, Port Harcourt and Abakaliki, expanding access to leadership education across regions.
Beyond local training, Mr. Osasah noted that Centre LSD also provides tailor-made international programmes designed to equip leaders with global best practices in governance and strategy formulation.
He stressed that effective strategy development begins with a clearly defined mission and proper institutional accreditation, adding that public policies can only address grassroots realities when leaders possess the competence to design and implement results-driven strategies.
The Executive Director further assured the NUJ FCT Council of the Centre’s commitment to developing a practical framework for collaboration, particularly in mentoring media professionals to enhance their leadership capacity and deepen their understanding of governance processes.
Responding, the Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, described the proposed partnership as timely and strategic, noting that the media remains a critical pillar in promoting transparency, accountability and sustainable development.
“As a professional body, the NUJ FCT Council is always open to partnerships that contribute to societal development while strengthening ethical and responsible journalism,” she said.
Comrade Ike emphasised that the media plays a pivotal role in amplifying initiatives that promote good governance, leadership development and sustainable progress across Africa.
She acknowledged Centre LSD as a non-profit, non-governmental organisation committed to building strategic leadership for sustainable development, with focus areas that align closely with the watchdog role of the media.
“These are critical areas that resonate with the media’s mandate in promoting accountability, public enlightenment and national growth,” she noted.
The NUJ FCT Chairman further expressed the Council’s willingness to explore structured training opportunities for its members to enhance their effectiveness in leadership roles within and outside the newsroom.
“We would like to gain deeper insight into your programmes, ongoing activities and expectations from this proposed partnership. This will enable us to determine how best our members can support your visibility and communication goals in a professional and structured manner,” she added.
She also called for the development of a clear framework outlining the scope of media engagement, responsibilities and areas for long-term collaboration between both organisations.
Management staff of Centre LSD were also present at the meeting, contributing ideas on areas of synergy and strategic cooperation aimed at strengthening institutional impact and promoting sustainable development outcomes.
The engagement marks a significant step toward equipping journalists in the FCT with enhanced leadership capacity, mentorship opportunities and strategic insight necessary for advancing responsible journalism and democratic governance.