In a bold move to stem the decline of moral values among young people, the Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation (LSEF), in collaboration with the Nkata Ndi Iyom Igbo Foundation, has completed a four-day regional Train-the-Trainers seminar aimed at fostering character development and youth reorientation across Southeast Nigeria.
Held under the theme “Rebuilding Character, Strengthening Values, Empowering Minds, Enabling the Future,” the intensive four-day workshop gathered mothers, teachers, women leaders, and community mentors from the five Southeastern states, as well as Delta and Edo states. The initiative focused on equipping these grassroots influencers with practical tools to champion social transformation and steer the region’s youth away from social vices.
Declaring the event open, the Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, Prof. U.U. Chukwumaeze, stressed that restoring societal values requires urgent, deliberate, and unified action.
“The responsibility of raising responsible and productive citizens rests with all of us. We must deliberately reorient our young people by teaching and nurturing them in line with our cherished cultural norms and values. Only then can we build a society founded on integrity, discipline, respect, and communal responsibility,” said Prof. Chukwumaeze.
Echoing these sentiments, Dr. Grace Okudo, representing the Nkata Ndi Iyom Igbo Foundation founded by former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih highlighted why the seminar prioritized women and educators. She noted that as the primary mentors in homes and classrooms, women are uniquely positioned to drive character formation if provided with modern mentoring skills.
The workshop featured specialized training modules led by prominent experts in education, human development, and leadership. Facilitators included Prof. Gloria Ernest-Samuel, Director of the Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation, along with development specialists Roz Okagbue and Grace Okezie.
Key learning modules covered during the four-day exercise included behavior change training, etiquette & emotional intelligence, value-based leadership & mentoring and effective communication.
Speaking on behalf of the co-organizers, Prof. Gloria Ernest-Samuel expressed optimism about the long-term ripple effect of the exercise. She noted that participants return to their respective states not just as attendees, but as certified trainers capable of cascading these crucial lessons down to schools, faith-based organizations, families, and youth groups.
By uniting the resources of the Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation, the Nkata Ndi Iyom Igbo Foundation, and Imo State University, the seminar establishes a scalable model for regional collaboration, one focused on preserving cultural heritage, reinforcing ethical leadership, and preparing the next generation of Nigerian youth to lead with integrity.