By Fortune Abang
The Toastmasters (TM) International Club, a non-profit organisation, on Thursday underscored the need for leaders to always develop their leadership skills to achieve meaningful progress.
Nadine Mbikina, District-Director of TM Club, District 94, in charge of Southern and Western Africa, gave the advice in her address at the Division “E and U ” Town-hall in Abuja.
According to her, it has become important for leaders to place priority on investment in leadership development to advance Nigeria growth.
Mbikina said: “TM Club is a non-profit organisation, which helps our members to be better public speakers and inspiring leaders.
“As you know leadership is very important, all the competencies that you can gain in TM can build a strong leadership in our countries.
“TM can provide all those skills our young people need to be better leaders, particularly all the skills that can enable people to achieve successes.”
For his part, Mr Kayode Yusuf, the Programmes Quality Director for District 94 of the TM Club, declared the readiness of the organisation to hold its district conference in 2024.
Yusuf said that it was an annual conference that would bring together TM from across 23 countries, to learn, have fun and network with other people.
He said: “Strategies have been put in place to ensure that we have a good conference in 2024; we are getting interest from our members across 23 countries.
“So, we are going to be seeing about 1, 000 people flocking into Abuja in 2024, for the conference.
“The conference is not just for TM alone, but people will get trained on leadership; there will be speech contest from all Area to Division levels.”
Yusuf furthfer said that some of the contestants would participate at the international convention scheduled to be held in California, in the U.S., in 2024.
High point of the event was panel discussion on marketing Toastmasters to non-Toastmasters and updates on District initiatives.
TM International Club with Division E and U, and Districts in Northern parts of Nigeria promotes improvement in public speaking, self-confidence, leadership and networking skills. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Cecilia Odey/Bashir Rabe Mani