The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) hosted the June edition of its Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) on 23 June 2026 at the Bjorn Beckman Hall, CITAD Office, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The event brought together 40 participants for an engaging session on leadership, personal growth, and career development.
The programme commenced with welcome remarks delivered by Isah Garba, Senior Programmes Officer, on behalf of the Executive Director of CITAD. During the opening, participants were welcomed to the monthly engagement, which provides young people with the opportunity to interact with accomplished individuals and learn from their personal and professional experiences.
The guest speaker, Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi, is the former Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON). With a distinguished career spanning broadcasting, advertising, leadership, and public service, he shared his life journey, reflecting on the experiences, challenges, and opportunities that shaped his career.
During his presentation, Alhaji Kankarofi took participants through his childhood, describing how he grew up as an energetic young boy whose primary interest was sports rather than academics. He recounted how failing his common entrance examination became a turning point in his life after receiving guidance from his headmaster, an experience that transformed his attitude towards learning, discipline, and leadership.
He reflected on his years in secondary school, where he became actively involved in sports, served in leadership positions, and developed the discipline that later influenced his professional life. He also shared his experiences at Barewa College, highlighting the opportunities available to students at the time, including quality education, sports development, technical skills training, and leadership responsibilities.
Alhaji Kankarofi also spoke about his early career journey, explaining that he began working in broadcasting in 1974. He shared experiences from his professional life, including opportunities to serve in different capacities and the lessons he learned through dedication, hard work, and continuous personal development. He also reflected on opportunities he had to pursue careers outside broadcasting, including military service and international studies, and how family guidance influenced some of the major decisions in his life.
Throughout the interactive session, participants gained valuable insights into resilience, discipline, leadership, self-improvement, and the importance of learning from setbacks. They also had the opportunity to interact with the guest and learn from his decades of professional and personal experience.
As part of his advice to participants, Alhaji Kankarofi encouraged them to remain patient, honest, and to always seek guidance and advice from their parents and elders while pursuing their educational, personal, and professional aspirations
As part of the event, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) presented Alhaji Garba Bello Kankarofi with selected CITAD publications in appreciation of his valuable contribution to the June edition of the Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS).
The Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series (ILERIS) is a monthly engagement platform designed to spotlight accomplished individuals who share their personal journeys with young people. The initiative aims to reshape the mindset of the younger generation by exposing them to the realities behind success, highlighting the struggles, persistence, and discipline that often go unseen behind luxurious lifestyles, achievements, and material possessions.
