Zariat Yetunde Ayoade reports,
The Greenline Nurture Initiative (GNI) has held a closing ceremony to commemorate the end of its maiden mentorship cohort. The initiative also awarded certificates to the mentees to recognise their grit and activity throughout the program. The closing ceremony took place virtually, via Google Meet, on January 15, 2023.
The program commenced with an opening remark from the Program Secretary, Uchenna Emelife, after which Prof Jimoh Amzat addressed the participants, encouraging them to make use of all they learnt through the program to achieve the best outcome and purpose of the initiative.
Dr Kazeem Aremu also highlighted the importance of all the mentees learnt, noting that the first cohort has come to an end and wishing them success in their endeavours.
The beneficiaries shared their success stories and experience with the mentors and colleagues, expressing gratitude for the guidance and other benefits they enjoyed.
The closing ceremony ended with a remark from the Program Secretary, who informed the beneficiaries that their e-certificates have been uploaded to the cloud and how to access them.
MENTEES REFLECT
After the ceremony, the mentees looked back at their GNI sojourn and wished it wouldn't come to an end.
Aminah Abdulfattah, a final year student of Education and Chemistry at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto and a member of the first cohort expressed gratitude to the conveners of the initiative. She appreciated them for being good mentors and "true definitions of fathers, teachers, role models and leaders. You are of excellence and grace. We treasure your efforts towards our future both financially and educationally.”
Ms Abdulfattah, who has recorded several achievements since becoming a member of GNI's first cohort, revealed that she will forever be grateful to the organizers and guest facilitators who guided them through the process.
In her words, “This cohort gave us clues for opportunities, clearing out the unnecessary skepticism that could make us lose opportunities”.
Before joining the cohort, Ms Abdulfattah, despite being a bright student, didn't know much about academic writing, especially research papers and statements of purpose, but “joining GNI opened my eyes and mind to limitless opportunities. Our mentors didn't only teach us how to eat fish, they taught us how to catch the fish".
She added that in the five months over which the program lasted, she got to broaden her knowledge towards seeking and exploring opportunities beyond classroom walls and achieving overall success in all her endeavours.
Like Aminah, Joy Ebube, is 400-level student of Sociology, also benefitted immensely from the first cohort.
She said, “GNI not only groomed me to maximize my potentials, but also opened a door for me; a door to start a new chapter in my life, and envision [greater] academic possibilities.”
Ms Ebube also lauded GNI for awakening her leadership skills, which have enabled her stand out in her current career as an intern with the Alburka Health Spring Foundation, an NGO based in Sokoto State dealing with health.
She got the role after the GNI mentorship program and believes she is becoming the best version of herself. She learnt through the fellowship that the journey to success is not an easy one and that one must be open to learning and exploring all possible opportunities.
According to her “GNI really boosted my self esteem and made me more outspoken. I am not the type that talks in any gathering. Even if I know something, I would not say it. But after the mentorship program, I began to speak out for myself, which made me ace the interview [at the foundation]. I went in with everything I learnt from GNI about how to answer interview questions and how to sell myself. And it really helped me in the process of getting the internship program”.
Mariam Dantani, a 400-level student of Botany, confessed that being a member of the GNI first cohort is a privilege many people can not have, iterating that being under the direct tutelage of the GNI conveners felt surreal. She added that she learnt and mastered how to write "a good Statement of Purpose, Curriculum Vitae" and more "with help and intensive training from the Greenline Nurture Initiative".
According to Abdrahman Tukur, a student of UDUS, the conveners of the GNI impacted a lot in him as a final year undergraduate student. Whilst describing his experience as impactful and knowledge-filled, he reminisced the golden privilege of being part of the first cohort.
“I am [also] grateful to other cohort members for a peaceful Interaction and co existence [throughout the cohort]," Tukur concluded.
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