Education stakeholders in the West Nile sub-region have been challenged to support students with skills in public speaking, leadership, confidence building, and mental and emotional wellness to better prepare them for leadership and responsible citizenship.
The stakeholders observed that many students and young people lack self-confidence, which affects their decision-making abilities both during school and after completing their education, especially as they transition into the world of work and leadership responsibilities.
The call was made during the launch of “Affirmation Creed,” an initiative by Fetaru School of Etiquette and Public Speaking aimed at empowering young people and communities through positive affirmations, mindset transformation, leadership development, and communication skills.
Nelson Onzima, the Director of Studies at Arua Public Secondary School, attributed many challenges in different sectors to negative mindsets and inadequate preparation of future leaders. According to Onzima, failure to intentionally prepare young people for leadership opportunities creates room for avoidable societal and institutional challenges.
The launch of Affirmation Creed marks the beginning of a wider national movement seeking to restore confidence, discipline, purpose, identity, hope, and responsible citizenship among young people across Uganda. The initiative will be implemented through school outreaches, assemblies, mentorship and leadership sessions, as well as public speaking and confidence-building programs.
Faith Fetaru, founder of Fetaru School of Etiquette and Public Speaking, said the initiative aligns with broader efforts to promote youth empowerment, education support, leadership development, mental wellness awareness, gender inclusion, and nation-building. Fetaru also revealed plans to establish a leadership centre targeting children in order to nurture future leaders from an early age and help them build confidence and self-belief.
A student leader at Arua Public Secondary School, Ivan Aita, welcomed the initiative, saying it will help strengthen the leadership capacity of students.Aita expressed hope that Arua Public Secondary School would become one of the first institutions in West Nile to implement the program.
Meanwhile, the Arua City Education Officer in charge of Guidance, Counselling and Special Needs, Annet Dilea, acknowledged that many learners struggle to express themselves because they lack confidence, leadership abilities, and self-belief. Vurra County MP-elect Charity Lenia also emphasized the importance of skills development alongside academic qualifications, noting that such skills help individuals build confidence and handle responsibilities effectively.
The Affirmation Creed initiative aligns with Uganda Vision 2040, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4, 5, 8, 10, and 17, which focus on education, leadership, inclusion, empowerment, and strategic partnerships for sustainable development. URN