Former Nigerian Ambassador to Burundi, Elijah Onyeagba; Director General of the Citizen and Leadership Center, Rinsola Abiola; Executive Director, Galaxy Backbone, Hon Segun Olulade; former Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari, Mr Wole Aboderin; SSA to the President on Community Engagement Southwest, Moremi Ojudu; Executive Director, North Central Development Commission, Princess Atika Ajana; founder of WFM Toun Okewale Sonaiya; SSA to the President on Entrepreneurship Development Chalya Shagaya are among the 170 chairpersons and members of the shortlist committee to review over 1700 applications received from young Nigerians nationwide for the Rising Progressive Young Leaders Fellowship (RPLF).
The Rising Progressive Leaders Fellowship (RPLF) is a flagship and elite leadership development initiative of the Progressive School of Politics, Leadership and Statecraft (PSPLS) – the human capital development arm of the APC National Youth Wing, purposefully designed to produce the best of the best, a new cadre of high value, governance ready young leaders prepared for public sector leadership and national service.
Other committee chairpersons and members include: Mr Bode Olugbore; Hon Ife Adebayo; Dr Sanusi Ohiare; Mr Kingsley Mordi; Barr Zainab Buba Marwa; Mr Abu Andrew; Engr Prof Abubakar Sadiq Zubair, Hon Ginika Tor and more.
According to the APC National Youth Leader, Dr Dayo Israel, the Fellowship targets exceptional emerging leaders with the capacity to contribute meaningfully to governance today, while being deliberately groomed to shape leadership and statecraft tomorrow. It is structured as a rigorous, immersive, and transformational experience that combines intellectual depth, practical exposure, and elite mentorship to prepare the next generation of progressive leaders for roles across the public sector, political institutions, and policy making spaces.
“RPLF is delivered as a high intensity, cohort based fellowship, featuring a residential component that removes participants from everyday distractions and places them in a focused environment of learning, reflection, collaboration, and leadership formation. This immersive model fosters discipline, peer bonding, critical thinking, and a deep appreciation of the demands of public leadership and service in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, the APC Youth Leader concluded.
Other members of the committee includes: SA to the Vice President Hon Ahmed Ningi; SSA to the President, Mrs Abiodun Essiet; Hon Abu Sidiq; Hon Mrs Nana Hauwa; Hajia Jemilah Shuaibu; Sheefah Zarma; Hon Onyeka Nwafor; Maryam Illyasu Gwarzo; Queen Zarah Onyinye; Engr Anjo Obande; Shehu Huseini Kollere; Dr Muhammed Yahaz; Chidinma Makachukwu; Gbenga Saka; Hon Ibrahim Alli Balogun; Mr Muyiwa Adebola; Hon Onyambo; Arabirin Aderonke Atoyebi; Segun Tomori; Theresa Tekanah; Abida Rabo; Jason Baba Kwaghe; Lamir Umar Ibrahim; Ochanya Okoh; Zubair Aliyu; Yewande Bisiolu; Gambo Manzo; Martha Agba; Melycent C. Reis; Abdul Haruna Danja; Olumide Olaniyan; Eng Ibrahim; Esther Oyeyinka; Jamilu Yusuf Yola; Saidu Malagi; Lamide Lawal; Mark Hamation; Bashir Ahmad; Kasha Musa Illiya; Ummi Uki Yusuf; Yetunde Gold; Imram Mohammed; Mohammed Tambura and many more.
The Fellowship draws on a distinguished faculty and resource network comprising former governors, former ministers, senior public servants, seasoned legislators, private sector leaders, policy experts, and thought leaders. Fellows benefit from direct interaction with serving and former senior government officials across both the legislative and executive arms of government, providing rare insight into real-world governance, policy negotiation, political leadership, and institutional decision making.
The committee is broken down into a 17 set of 10 man committee to review 100 applications each and shortlist to 350 which would proceed to the next stage of physical interviews to be conducted by former Governors of the party, agency heads and other senior leaders.
Beyond classroom instruction, the Fellowship emphasizes experiential learning, leadership simulations, policy labs, fireside conversations, and high level engagements that expose fellows to the realities of power, responsibility, and service. Participants are challenged intellectually, ethically, and practically ensuring that the Fellowship experience is not only instructive but life transforming.
The application review process will commence on Wednesday, January 27, 2026, while further updates on the review exercise and final selection process will be communicated in due course.
