Governor Bassey Otu has described the Bridge Leadership Foundation as one of Cross River State’s most impactful investments in human capital, commending its Founder and former Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, for sustaining a vision that has transformed more than 200,000 young people through leadership development, mentorship and employability programmes over the past 15 years.
The Governor spoke on Saturday at the University of Calabar International Conference Centre during the Foundation’s 15th Anniversary celebration and 16th Career Day Conference, themed “Power, Purpose, Persistence: Youth Leading Change for the Next 15 Years.”
Otu said the Foundation had become a model for youth empowerment by consistently bridging the gap between talent and opportunity, producing a generation of responsible, ethical and visionary leaders capable of driving sustainable development within and beyond Cross River State.
According to him, true leadership must be built on vision, character, discipline, integrity, innovation and service, stressing that “leadership without character is like a car without brakes.”
He urged young Nigerians to embrace resilience, financial discipline, digital literacy, patriotism and lifelong learning in order to remain relevant in an increasingly technology-driven world.
The Governor also highlighted his administration’s establishment of the University of Education and Entrepreneurship, describing it as a strategic investment designed to equip young people with practical skills and entrepreneurial capacity for the future economy.
In his welcome address, Senator Imoke said the Foundation was established in 2011 to bridge the disconnect between gifted young people and opportunities for leadership, personal development and national service.
Reflecting on the Foundation’s journey, he noted that its greatest achievement was not merely the number of conferences or training programmes organised, but the thousands of lives transformed through initiatives such as the Graduate Employability Training Programme, leadership development projects, mentoring schemes and the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship.
Imoke who was accompanied with his wife,Obioma, maintained that societies are ultimately transformed by people of character and competence, calling for greater investments in developing ethical, innovative and visionary young leaders capable of addressing the nation’s evolving challenges.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Otu, development partners, donors,stakeholders and volunteers whose support has sustained the Foundation’s work over the years.
The event featured compelling testimonies from alumni who credited the Foundation with changing the trajectory of their lives and careers.
