SPPG Students Ibrahim Mohammed Ajia (PDP), Khadijah Abdullahi Iya (APGA), Ier Jonathan (ADC), Nonso Nnamani (APGA) and Adeola Azeez(SDP) successfully won their primaries. They emerged as candidates for their respective political parties in Nigeria.
The SPPG is designed to attract, develop and produce a new generation of political leaders who will listen to and serve the new class of citizens that know their rights, as well as produce 21st Century politicians who will be known for their values-driven character, unquestionable competence and undeniable capacity. To achieve its mandate, the School currently runs a ten-month programme for a Certificate in Public Leadership and Policy (CPLP); Since its inception in 2021, the School has trained and graduated 160 Students as part of its Pioneer Class and is training 154 Students in the Class of 2022.
Beyond the lessons in the classroom, of paramount importance to the School is the need for its students to run for office. The SPPG is non-partisan in its modus operandi; the SPPG has students from different political parties. Students can choose any political party or platform to run for office. To support its Students running for office, a roundtable session for political aspirants led by Dr Obiageli “Oby” Ezekwesili, Founder of the School and Alero Ayida-Otobo, CEO of SPPG, was organised to provide support for SPPG Students running for political office.
Leveraging their training at the SPPG, in the 2022 Party primaries, 55 students from the SPPG Pioneer Class and the SPPG Class of 2022 contested in their respective political parties to become candidates. Five students emerged as winners: Ibrahim Mohammed Ajia is the House of Representative candidate Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency for the PDP, Khadijah Abdullahi Iya is the Governorship candidate Niger State for APGA, Nonso Nnamani is the Federal House of Representatives, Enugu North and South Federal Constituency for APGA, Ier Jonathan is the Federal House of Representative Kwande/Ushongo candidate for the ADC, Adeola Azeez is the House of Representative candidate Ijebu Central for the SDP.
Ibrahim Mohammed Ajia, SPPG Class of 2022, PDP
Ibrahim Mohammed Ajia, an SPPG Class of 2022 Student and House of representative candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency, has pledged to attract development to his constituency and create opportunities for job employment if elected to serve. According to Ibrahim, “I have acquired that knowledge with modesty and built solid relationships with critical individuals and institutions in Nigeria and beyond. If I am entrusted to represent our Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, I will be an active, relevant, and performing representative. I will be part of those who will make things happen in the House of Representatives. Our voice will be heard. Our needs will receive attention, our people will get what is due to us, and many of our youth will be gainfully employed.”
Hajiya Khadijat Abdullahi-Iya SPPG Class of 2022, APGA
Hajiya Khadijat Abdullahi-Iya an SPPG Class of 2022 Student, emerged winner at the governorship primary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Niger State for the 2023 general election after defeating a male contender, Alhaji Mohammed Usman, with 121 votes against 20. Abdullahi-Iya brazed the odds to change the narrative of the male-dominated political terrain by contesting and clinching the ticket to fly the flag of APGA. According to Abdullahi-Iya, “I was able to leverage my training at the SPPG, the goodwill and relationship my family has built over the years, my social enterprise and existing party structure to win my primaries”.
Nonso Nnamani SPPG Class of 2021, APGA
Nonso Nnamani is contesting for a seat at the Federal House of Representatives, Enugu North and South Federal Constituency in the upcoming 2023 general election on the platform of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), his key agenda above power and political interest is to put the needs of the people first and to ensure that policies and programs accurately reflect the needs of his community. According to Nonso Nnamani “Having observed the Enugu North and South political space over the years, I firmly believe that there is need to renew the political class. Leadership is key! It is time to bring in new young leaders with capacity and competence to foster growth and development in our community. My purpose and agenda is clear – PUTTING YOU FIRST.”
Adeola Azeez, SPPG Pioneer Class Alumni, SDP
Adeola Azeez, the daughter of elder statesman Pa Ayo Adebanjo, an SPPG Pioneer Class Alumna who is running for the House of Representative Ijebu Central under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Is running to ensure regular electricity supply, creation of jobs, agricultural development and education, among others, in Ijebu Central Federal Constituency. According to Adeola Azeez, “I am not satisfied with the number of women in politics. We don’t have enough women in government” She frowned at the rejection of the five gender-based bills by members of the House of Representatives, saying that such action was aimed at denying more women the opportunity to participate in politics. She believes the country cannot move forward as expected until more women are allowed in the three tiers and arms of government.
Ier Jonathan-Ichaver SPPG Pioneer Class Alumni, ADC
Ier Jonathan-Ichaver is an SPPG Pioneer Class Alumna, a social justice advocate, and co-founder of Sensor Empowerment Foundation, a disaster relief organisation supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees. Ier Jonathan emerged as the Federal House of Representative Kwande/Ushongo candidate for the ADC.
Beyond the Primaries
The SPPG is focused on building ethical, competent leaders and producing at scale a new genre of public leadership that serves the people and delivers on governance. SPPG has set the goal of raising and preparing 10,000 disruptive thinking, values-based political leaders over the next ten years.