…as CALDEV nurture digitally smart, socially responsible leaders across Africa
By Gloria Ikibah
The Children of Africa Leadership and Values Development Initiative (CALDEV) has announced that more than 400 children from across Africa will converge in Abuja for the 2025 National Children’s Leadership Conference (NCLC), a landmark event aimed at equipping young Africans with leadership, digital, and social responsibility skills. 
Speaking at a media briefing ahead of the event, Chibuzor Okereke, Chairman of the Planning Committee, who also represented the Founder of CALDEV, Rep. Bamidele Salam, said the conference will run from Monday, 17 November to Friday, 21 November 2025, coinciding with the Universal Children’s Day on 20 November.
“The National Children’s Leadership Conference is a flagship initiative that gives children a voice, vision, and opportunity to lead.
“Our theme this year — The Role of Children in Nation-Building: Digitally Smart, Socially Responsible — reflects our belief that Africa’s progress begins with the values and vision we instil in our children today,” Okereke said.
Founded in 2015, CALDEV has mentored thousands of children across Nigeria and Africa, helping them build confidence, civic awareness, and leadership skills. The 2025 conference marks the fourth consecutive edition and will expand to include participants from Zambia, Gambia, Uganda, and Ghana, among others.
According to Okereke, the event will feature a Children’s Parliament Session, digital literacy workshops on artificial intelligence, video editing, and graphic design, as well as public speaking and problem-solving challenges designed to inspire innovation and teamwork.
“This year’s event will also feature the launch of Rep. Salam’s new book, The Power of a Teenager: 50 Ways to Inspire Change, and the highly anticipated Early Achievers Award, honouring outstanding young talents who have shown creativity and leadership at an early age,” he added.
Reaffirming the founder’s message, Okereke quoted Rep. Bamidele Salam as saying:
“CALDEV is driven by the belief that the future of Africa lies in the quality of values and vision we instil in our children today.”
Amina Abubakar, Director of SAFE Africa, one of the conference partners, described NCLC as “one of its kind in West Africa.”
“It’s not just about leadership lessons — it gives children a chance to experience what it means to be a parliamentarian, a policymaker, and a changemaker.
“Over the past three years, more than 1,000 children have benefited, and this year promises to go even furtherr,” she said.
Adding to this, CALDEV’s Programme Officer, Toromade Faderera, revealed that four exceptional children will receive the Distinguished CALDEV Africa Early Achievers Award during the conference.
“These young achievers, some as young as nine, have demonstrated extraordinary creativity, innovation, and leadership.
“They remind us that children, though young, hold the potential to transform their communities and the continent,” Faderera noted.
The NCLC 2025 is expected to serve as a continental hub for nurturing the next generation of African leaders, confident, ethical, and ready to shape a brighter, more inclusive future.
Dignitaries expected at the event include Vice President Kashim Shettima, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, among others.
