In excitement, the United States Consulate has celebrated a significant milestone this week with the graduation of 50 fellows from the 2023 cohort of the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI).
This programme, known for its transformative impact on young leaders, equips them with essential skills, knowledge, and a supportive network to drive positive change in their respective communities.
The graduation ceremony held in Lagos marked not only the completion of the programme but also the commencement of a new phase for these emerging leaders.
U.S. Consul General Will Stevens commended the CYFI fellows for their achievements and urged them to carry forward their passion for economic growth, democratic governance, and civil liberties as they continue to implement impactful programmes.
“The Carrington Youth Fellowship has provided them with the skills to become change-makers and advocates for progress,” Stevens said. “Their passion and dedication are a testament to the potential of youth to shape our world for the better.”
Exceptional fellows were recognised for their remarkable dedication and innovative approaches to addressing critical issues spanning civil liberties, economic empowerment, education, and health.
These projects underscored the breadth of commitment among the fellows to build sustainable futures for their communities.
During the ceremony, attended by CYFI programme partners and dignitaries including Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu, the permanent secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, the 2024 cohort welcomed 65 new fellows into the intensive one-year programme.
Consul General Stevens, while inducting the new cohort, emphasised the challenges and opportunities ahead: “As the torch of service and leadership is passed on to you, remember that the journey ahead is challenging. But as we’ve seen from our graduating fellows, it is also filled with extraordinary possibilities.”
This year, the Carrington Youth Fellowship Alumni Network revealed the expansion of the programme to encompass eight states: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, and Enugu states. The expansion was made possible through collaborations with partners such as the Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation, Access Bank, and LEAP Africa.
Since its inception in 2011 by the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, the Carrington Youth Fellowship has nurtured a network of accomplished young Nigerians dedicated to driving positive change.
Named after former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, a champion of civil rights and democracy, the program has graduated over 278 outstanding young Nigerians who continue to make impactful contributions as entrepreneurs, innovators, activists, and agents of social change.
The programme’s legacy of success continues to inspire the next generation of leaders.
