To mark its 15th anniversary, UK-based leadership development organisation TEXEM (These Executive Minds) hosted a transformative youth leadership workshop Lagos, at Greensprings School, bringing together over a hundred senior secondary school students for a day of purpose, reflection, and action.
Far from a symbolic celebration, the event was a values-driven intervention designed to ignite leadership consciousness in young Nigerians. “It must start where the future lives—in our schools, in our youth, in the raw courage of untapped potential,”
Unlike typical corporate engagements that prioritize visibility over impact, this youth leadership workshop Lagos was built on moral clarity and long-term vision. Students were not passive attendees but active participants in a dialogue about responsibility, integrity, and national transformation.
“What made this event exceptional was not the calibre of the speakers or the prestige of the organisers, though both were impressive,” the statement noted. “What set it apart was the moral clarity underpinning its existence—a masterclass in normative corporate social responsibility, where giving is seen as duty, not strategy.”
The workshop was anchored by a powerful opening message from Dr. Alim Abubakre, founder of TEXEM, who challenged the students to see leadership as a personal calling, not a future job title. “Leadership begins with awareness, with action, and with the courage to serve,” he said. This theme echoed through every session, panel, and student interaction throughout the day.
High-profile speakers brought real-world insights to the young audience. John Momoh, veteran media executive, delivered a compelling case for media integrity, urging students to value truth in storytelling. Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, called for values-driven public service, reminding the youth that leadership is not about power, but about service and accountability.
“The shared belief among all contributors was clear,” the statement continued. “Society has a sacred responsibility to equip its young people not just with skills, but with vision, empathy, and agency. This wasn’t about developing future employees—it was about affirming the intrinsic worth of every young person and declaring that their dreams are not naive. They are necessary.”
True to its ethos, the workshop was highly interactive. Students asked tough questions, debated national issues, and made personal commitments to drive change in their communities. One pledged to champion mental health awareness among peers; another committed to launching a neighborhood recycling initiative.
These were not performative gestures, but authentic acts of ownership sparked by a sincere encounter with responsibility.
“The students were not passive recipients of wisdom,” the statement noted. “They were co-creators of dialogue. They were seen, they were heard, and they were trusted with responsibility.”
Beyond the immediate impact, the event set a new benchmark for what authentic corporate social responsibility (CSR) can look like. By investing time, expertise, and resources in young people who hold no economic power or influence, TEXEM demonstrated that impact doesn’t need to be measured by ROI or brand visibility.
“Normative CSR asks: What is right? What is just? What do we owe to those with no platform, yet every right to flourish?” the statement reflected. “TEXEM’s choice to focus on youth leadership sends a powerful message: leadership development must be rooted in conscience, not calculation.”
As Nigeria navigates complex social and political challenges, initiatives like this youth leadership workshop Lagos are no longer optional—they are essential. The event was not just a celebration of 15 years of TEXEM’s work, but a bold recommitment to shaping a future where leadership is inclusive, compassionate, and driven by purpose.
For the students who walked into the room uncertain of their role in nation-building, the workshop was a turning point. They left not just inspired—but empowered, seen, and ready to lead.
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