School commences training for political leaders in Africa

#FixPolitics, an initiative designed to “structurally change and innovate politics” in Nigeria and Africa, is set to commence operations at its School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG).

The #FixPolitics initiative was launched in February by Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former minister of education, in collaboration with the Robert Bosch Academy.

The SPPG is an unconventional school that is part of the group’s agenda to build “value-based political thinkers of economic and human development” in Africa.

According to a statement by Ozioma Ubabukoh, #FixPolitics spokesperson, the school, designed to provide a threshold of knowledge for public office seekers, will begin to accept applications in January 2021.

#FixPolitics said the school is designed to transform Africa’s politics, adding that the foundational programme would come with a blend of “global, continental and Nigerian-based learning”.

It said the school will cover courses in politics, ethics and leadership; political economy and engagement in a democracy; economic and sector policies for inclusive growth and shared prosperity; good governance, institutions building and citizens’ engagement; trends in public leadership and innovations and running for political office and capstone community projects.

“An unconventional school of the research-anchored #FixPolitics initiative is uniquely designed to transform politics in Nigeria and the rest of Africa, by building a massive base and pipeline of a new value-based and disruptive thinking political class with the requisite knowledge and skills to solve complex problems of development,” the statement read.

“It is a transformative opportunity for current and future leaders with a commitment to public service.

“We offer a unique opportunity for our students to learn from leading academics and practitioners in the fields of politics, policy, and governance as they interact among themselves to build a new class of political leadership talent base for Nigeria.”

Alero Ayida-Otobo, interim chief executive officer of SPPG, described the school as “a game-changer”

She said: “This is what we have been waiting for – an opportunity to build a new class of political leaders known for their character, competence and strong capacity to deliver on their promise of good governance and excellent leadership.”