Raising a New Generation of Leaders: BSN’s Bold Initiative
In Nigeria, often plagued by stories of corruption and failed governance, a quiet revolution is taking root, one that seeks to redefine leadership through the lens of faith, integrity, and biblical values.
Last year, The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) hosted the African Biblical Leadership Initiative Conference in Abuja, a four-day gathering aimed at equipping leaders across Africa with the values of leadership rooted in integrity and the fear of God.
The African Biblical Leadership Initiative Conference brought together technocrats, professionals, clergy, and young leaders to address Africa’s leadership crisis—not with political strategies, but with Scripture. One day was exclusively dedicated to youth engagement, reflecting BSN’s belief that lasting change begins with the next generation.
From Conference to Concrete Action
The conference’s most significant outcome is the Catalysing Leadership training programme, a six-month leadership incubator designed to mould emerging leaders into transformative figures for the continent in general, and Nigeria in particular. This training commenced on May 1, 2025, in Lagos under the auspices of BSN and the International Bible Advocacy Centre (IBAC), an arm of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Twenty-two young men and women across the country, between the ages of 20 and 40, registered for the leadership training. While 17 of them are taking part in the in-person session, five are participating virtually. It is a rigorous six-month mentorship designed to ground participants in biblical principles while sharpening their practical leadership skills.
The programme’s structure is intentional:
The seven-month programme is structured around three strands of leadership training: Authentic, Relational, and Catalysing Leadership. Each strand consists of three modules, which will be facilitated by tutors during each of the three-day face-to-face sessions in May, July and November 2025. In each session, tutors will have eight hours to engage with the emerging leaders. Every module includes four guided sessions, each with defined learning outcomes and suggested readings.
Participants have been assigned mentors to guide them throughout the seven-month training. These mentors are seasoned leaders in business, ministry, academia, and civil society. An interesting part of the training is the interview sessions, during which accomplished professionals, through a question-and-answer format, share real-life examples of how they have upheld integrity and the fear of God in the positions they have held. Until the next in-person session, scheduled for July 11-12, 2025, the emerging leaders will continue to work with their mentors and complete their assignments.
One of the participants, Pastor Akinfenwa Olaoluwa Seun, said, “The training has been impactful and mind blowing. I was so glad when I learnt that I would be mentored by a senior person I have admired from a distance.
During the first three days of the physical session, I learnt that a leader must first imagine the change they want to see and then work towards it. A leader must be authentic in all areas to lead effectively.”
Another participant, Elijah Odunbaku Surprise, said: “Participating in the Catalysing Leadership training was a powerful and eye-opening experience for me. Over the three days, I was challenged to reflect deeply on what it means to lead authentically, not from position or title, but from a place of self-awareness, honesty, and alignment with my values and God’s will. I gained practical tools to help me build trust, listen actively, and show up consistently as the same person in both my personal and professional spaces. <
br /> Moving forward, I intend to apply these lessons by being more intentional in how I communicate, staying true to my values, and nurturing meaningful relationships that foster shared growth. This experience has strengthened my resolve to lead with integrity and courage, no matter the setting.”
The Road Ahead
For The Bible Society of Nigeria, the goal is clear: to create a network of leaders whose decisions and actions are anchored in faith and biblical values. According to the President and Board Chair of BSN, Bishop Dr. Timothy Banwo, “Africa’s transformation won’t come from a miracle. It will come from leaders who dare to be different.”
Churches and organisations are encouraged to nominate members or staff to register for the second cohort of the programme. For enquiries, please send email to grace@biblesociety-nigeria.org
Last year, The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN) hosted the African Biblical Leadership Initiative Conference in Abuja, a four-day gathering aimed at equipping leaders across Africa with the values of leadership rooted in integrity and the fear of God.
The African Biblical Leadership Initiative Conference brought together technocrats, professionals, clergy, and young leaders to address Africa’s leadership crisis—not with political strategies, but with Scripture. One day was exclusively dedicated to youth engagement, reflecting BSN’s belief that lasting change begins with the next generation.
From Conference to Concrete Action
The conference’s most significant outcome is the Catalysing Leadership training programme, a six-month leadership incubator designed to mould emerging leaders into transformative figures for the continent in general, and Nigeria in particular. This training commenced on May 1, 2025, in Lagos under the auspices of BSN and the International Bible Advocacy Centre (IBAC), an arm of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Twenty-two young men and women across the country, between the ages of 20 and 40, registered for the leadership training. While 17 of them are taking part in the in-person session, five are participating virtually. It is a rigorous six-month mentorship designed to ground participants in biblical principles while sharpening their practical leadership skills.
The programme’s structure is intentional:
The seven-month programme is structured around three strands of leadership training: Authentic, Relational, and Catalysing Leadership. Each strand consists of three modules, which will be facilitated by tutors during each of the three-day face-to-face sessions in May, July and November 2025. In each session, tutors will have eight hours to engage with the emerging leaders. Every module includes four guided sessions, each with defined learning outcomes and suggested readings.
Participants have been assigned mentors to guide them throughout the seven-month training. These mentors are seasoned leaders in business, ministry, academia, and civil society. An interesting part of the training is the interview sessions, during which accomplished professionals, through a question-and-answer format, share real-life examples of how they have upheld integrity and the fear of God in the positions they have held. Until the next in-person session, scheduled for July 11-12, 2025, the emerging leaders will continue to work with their mentors and complete their assignments.
One of the participants, Pastor Akinfenwa Olaoluwa Seun, said, “The training has been impactful and mind blowing. I was so glad when I learnt that I would be mentored by a senior person I have admired from a distance.
During the first three days of the physical session, I learnt that a leader must first imagine the change they want to see and then work towards it. A leader must be authentic in all areas to lead effectively.”
Another participant, Elijah Odunbaku Surprise, said: “Participating in the Catalysing Leadership training was a powerful and eye-opening experience for me. Over the three days, I was challenged to reflect deeply on what it means to lead authentically, not from position or title, but from a place of self-awareness, honesty, and alignment with my values and God’s will. I gained practical tools to help me build trust, listen actively, and show up consistently as the same person in both my personal and professional spaces. <
br /> Moving forward, I intend to apply these lessons by being more intentional in how I communicate, staying true to my values, and nurturing meaningful relationships that foster shared growth. This experience has strengthened my resolve to lead with integrity and courage, no matter the setting.”
The Road Ahead
For The Bible Society of Nigeria, the goal is clear: to create a network of leaders whose decisions and actions are anchored in faith and biblical values. According to the President and Board Chair of BSN, Bishop Dr. Timothy Banwo, “Africa’s transformation won’t come from a miracle. It will come from leaders who dare to be different.”
Churches and organisations are encouraged to nominate members or staff to register for the second cohort of the programme. For enquiries, please send email to grace@biblesociety-nigeria.org