The 2026 BS-E4 Teenagers’ Leadership Bootcamp has commenced in Ede, Osun State, with more than 200 secondary school students from the Ede Federal Constituency participating in a five-day programme focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, technology and problem-solving.
The bootcamp, which began on Monday, September 28, and will run until Friday, October 2, 2026, is being held at Camp Young, Ede, under the theme, “Empowering the Next Generation of Responsible, Tech-Savvy, and Impact-Driven Leaders.”
The programme is powered by the office of Hon. Bamidele Salam, who represents Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, in collaboration with the Children of Africa Leadership and Values Development Initiative (CALDEV).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chairman of CALDEV, Dr Chibuzo Okereke, described the bootcamp as an incubator for developing young leaders and equipping them with skills needed for leadership, entrepreneurship, technology and innovation.
“We have over 200 participants who in the next one week will be an incubator for leadership, entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, which will increase their experience in leadership, community and problem-solving skills,” Okereke said.
He explained that the programme was also designed to bridge the gap between adults and young people by providing the younger generation with the knowledge and mentorship required to contribute meaningfully to their communities.
“The purpose is to bridge the gap between the adults and the children because they are the future and we have to invest in them, which is why Representative Bamidele Salam has been doing this for some years through CALDEV,” he said.
Okereke added that the bootcamp was aimed at inspiring positive change among the participants and preparing them to become responsible citizens and good ambassadors of their communities.
The Vice President of CALDEV, Mrs Oluwaseyi Salam, said the initiative was designed to change the perception that young people are only leaders of the future, stressing that they should be encouraged to demonstrate leadership from an early age.
“We are no longer looking at them as the leaders of tomorrow, but they are leaders of today because in their different areas they should be able to lead well,” she said.
She said technology would also play a major role in the training, particularly with the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence.
“We are also looking at the topic around technology, especially with the advancement of Artificial Intelligence. They should be trained on how to be Tech-Savvy, so that they should be current about the latest use of technology,” Salam said.
Also speaking, a volunteer at the programme, Dr Buhari Abiodun, said the participants would take part in a range of activities designed to improve their interpersonal and leadership abilities.
“Between now and Friday, there would be a lot of networking, human relation, and lot more,” Abiodun said.
He added that the students would undergo several training sessions throughout the five-day programme.
“A lot of training has been scheduled for them to undergo within the five days of the activities. My advice for all the participants is to take note of everything, open their mind for learning so that they can get the purpose of the programme, and I urge them to abide by the rules and regulations of the programme,” he said.
The teenage participants, drawn from secondary schools across Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo, also expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to learn and develop their leadership skills.
Aishat Adebowale, a student of The Muslim College, Ede, appreciated the organisers for creating the opportunity, saying she was eager to acquire new knowledge.
“I appreciate Hon. Bamidele Salam for bringing this opportunity and I am overwhelmed to be part of the participants. I am here to learn what I didn’t know before, from the respect of elders to learning more about leadership style and charisma,” Adebowale said.
Another participant, Abdulmujeeb Olayiwola of Al-Madina College, said he was particularly interested in learning about leadership and building relationships with other participants.
“I am very excited to be in this programme and I am ready to learn about leadership charisma and networking around my co-participants as I am preparing myself to be a good leader,” he said.
Buhari Muqodim of Staff Secondary School, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, said he expected the programme to leave him with valuable lessons on leadership and responsibility.
“My expectations are very high and by the end of this programme, I will be happy that I have learnt a valuable lesson on leadership responsibility,” Muqodim said.
The bootcamp is part of the broader youth development efforts of CALDEV, a non-governmental and non-profit organisation established in 2015 by Bamidele Salam.
The organisation focuses on educating, mentoring and developing children and young adults, with the aim of preparing them to become responsible citizens, change agents and positive contributors to their communities.
The five-day programme is expected to expose participants to practical leadership experiences while equipping them with skills in technology, entrepreneurship, networking and community problem-solving.