The impact president of the Rotary Club of Isolo, Adetutu Kamiyo, has urged trainees to imbibe strong leadership traits for effective service and community development.

Ms Kamiyo gave the charge on Thursday during the club’s fellowship with trainees of Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) District 9111, at the Leadership and Training centre, Sea School, Apapa.

She said leadership was beyond holding titles, stressing that it required character, integrity, and a commitment.

“Leadership is about influence, not position; you must develop traits such as empathy, accountability, teamwork, and vision. These qualities will enable you to lead projects that truly impact lives in Isolo and beyond,” Ms Kamiyo said.

Rotary Club, through its RYLA, plans to train over 400 young people on leadership skills.

Participants, between ages 14 years to 25 years, will be trained for an intensive nine-day leadership programme, which started on August 1.

The impact president said that the trainees would be taught various leadership skills including how to become better persons that would impact other people’s lives.

‘’They will also be taught on what can sustain them as they grow up to become adults prepared to take on leadership roles, ‘’ she said.

Ms Kamiyo said each Rotary club in District 9110 sponsored different youths from their various communities.

“Isolo sponsored 10 young people at the cost of N600,000, that is, N60,000 per student. We are here today to fellowship, meet with, and inspire them to add more value to the training.

“The trainees should be determined about being leaders in life and be consistent” she said.

Two trainees expressed gratitude to the organisers, saying they had learnt leadership skills on another level.

One of them, Goodness Omoniyi, expressed excitement for the new skills she was being equipped with.

“The training has opened my eyes to see the opportunities that lie ahead; I have been taught also to see that I have great potential,” she said.

Another participant, Adekunle Adeolu, described the training as both educative and enlightening.

Mr Adeolu said, “I have been taught self-reliance and exposed to different leadership skills. ‘’

(NAN)