APC Rising Progressive Leaders Fellowship(RPLF): Marwa, Onyeagba, Shagaya, Ojudu, Abiola to Head 1700 Nationwide Application Review Committee

Former ambassadors, presidential aides, policy experts, and development leaders have begun the nationwide review process for Nigeria’s elite youth leadership programme under the APC National Youth Wing.

A high-powered shortlist committee comprising former ambassadors, senior presidential aides, development experts, and policy leaders has commenced reviewing over 1,700 applications submitted by young Nigerians nationwide for the Rising Progressive Young Leaders Fellowship (RPLF).

Among the 170 chairpersons and committee members are Former Nigerian Ambassador to Burundi, H.E. Elijah Onyeagba; Director-General of the Citizens and Leadership Centre, Rinsola Abiola; Executive Director of Galaxy Backbone, Hon. Segun Olulade; former Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Wole Aboderin; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-West), Moremi Ojudu; Executive Director, North Central Development Commission, Princess Atika Ajana; Founder of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WFM), Toun Okewale Sonaiya; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Entrepreneurship Development, Chalya Shagaya.

The Rising Progressive Young Leaders Fellowship (RPLF) is the flagship leadership development programme of the Progressive School of Politics, Leadership and Statecraft (PSPLS)—the human capital development arm of the APC National Youth Wing. The Fellowship is designed to develop a new generation of governance-ready young leaders equipped for public service, political leadership, and national development.

Other committee members include Mr. Bode Olugbore; Hon. Ife Adebayo; Dr. Sanusi Ohiare; Mr. Kingsley Mordi; Barr. Zainab Buba Marwa; Mr. Abu Andrew; Engr. Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Zubair; Hon. Ginika Tor, among others.

According to the APC National Youth Leader, Dr. Dayo Israel, the Fellowship targets exceptional emerging leaders with the capacity to contribute meaningfully to governance today, while being deliberately groomed to shape leadership and statecraft in the future.

He explained that RPLF is structured as a rigorous, immersive, and transformational leadership programme, combining intellectual training, practical exposure, and elite mentorship across the public sector and political ecosystem.

“RPLF is delivered as a high-intensity, cohort-based fellowship with a residential component that removes participants from everyday distractions and places them in a focused environment of learning, reflection, collaboration, and leadership formation,” Dr. Israel said.
“This immersive model fosters discipline, peer bonding, critical thinking, and a deep appreciation of the demands of public leadership and service, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Additional members of the shortlist committee include SA to the Vice President, Hon. Ahmed Ningi; SSA to the President, Mrs. Abiodun Essiet; Hon. Abu Sidiq; Hon. Mrs. Nana Hauwa; Hajia Jemilah Shuaibu; Sheefah Zarma; Hon. Onyeka Nwafor; Maryam Illyasu Gwarzo; Queen Zarah Onyinye; Engr. Anjo Obande; Shehu Huseini Kollere; Dr. Muhammed Yahaz; Chidinma Makachukwu; Gbenga Saka; Hon. Ibrahim Alli Balogun; Mr. Muyiwa Adebola; Hon. Onyambo; Arabirin Aderonke Atoyebi; Segun Tomori; Theresa Tekanah; Abida Rabo; Jason Baba Kwaghe; Lamir Umar Ibrahim; Ochanya Okoh; Zubair Aliyu; Yewande Bisiolu; Gambo Manzo; Martha Agba; Melycent C. Reis; Abdul Haruna Danja; Olumide Olaniyan; Engr. Ibrahim; Esther Oyeyinka; Jamilu Yusuf Yola; Saidu Malagi; Lamide Lawal; Mark Hamation; Bashir Ahmad; Kasha Musa Illiya; Ummi Uki Yusuf; Yetunde Gold; Imram Mohammed; Mohammed Tambura, and others.

To ensure transparency and efficiency, the committee has been structured into 17 panels of 10 members each, with every panel assigned 100 applications. Based on the review exercise, 350 candidates will be shortlisted to advance to the next stage: physical interviews.

The interviews will be conducted by former governors of the APC, agency heads, and other senior national leaders, further strengthening the credibility of the Fellowship’s selection process.

Beyond classroom instruction, the Fellowship emphasizes experiential leadership development, including policy labs, leadership simulations, fireside conversations, and high-level engagements. Participants are exposed to the realities of governance, power, responsibility, and ethical leadership.

The programme draws from a distinguished faculty comprising former governors, ministers, senior civil servants, legislators, private sector leaders, policy experts, and thought leaders, providing fellows with direct insight into Nigeria’s governance architecture.

The application review process begins on Wednesday, January 27, 2026. Further updates on the shortlist, interview schedule, and final selection will be communicated in due course.