about us

Mission

The Children’s Leadership Initiative is focused on closing the global leadership gap by developing a new generation of ethical, effective, and service minded leaders.

History

The Children’s Leadership Initiative was developed in response to a need for more ethical and effective leaders who have a heart for service over self interest. Its origin can be traced back to the writings of Robert Greenleaf, the father of servant leadership, who suggested that leadership traits can be identified in children as early as pre-school and the scientific verification of this position by Dr. Aderonke Kujore Adelekan. It is built on the premise that if leadership skills are identified and nurtured early in life, there is a greater likelihood of that tomorrow’s organizational leaders would be more ethical, effective and focused on service over self interest.

our team

Founder

Dr. Aderonke Kujore Adelekan (Addie) is a philanthropist and the founder of the Children’s Leadership Initiative and Aderonke Foundation (www.aderonkefoundation.org). In the earliest days of her career she focused on leading projects and programs in the technology and financial services industries including serving as Chief Operating Officer of AVF Consulting and Director of Technology at Jitasa Group. Most recently, she has been dedicating her time and efforts to developing a new generation of leaders who are ethical, competent, and have a spirit of service. She received her undergraduate degree in Information Systems from Howard University in Washington, DC, an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Regent University in Virginia. In her leisure, Addie rides horses, travels, and enjoys live jazz. She is the founder of TechSavvyNigeria, a program that's bridging the digital divide in Nigeria (www.techsavvynigeria.com), Aderonke House, an orphanage in Nairob, Kenya, and AllNigeriaReads (www.allnigeriareads.org), a child literacy program positioned to change the face of literacy in Nigeria. She lives in Washington, DC with her two children.

Nigerian National Coordinator

Folashade Adebawo is the National Coordinator for the Children's Leadership Initiative in Nigeria. She is a 21st century Educator, phonics expert, Coach, Facilitator at Lagos East Teachers Followship. She is also a librarian at All Nigeria Reads in Ikorodu and an IT instructor in Techsavvy Nigeria. Outside of this work, Folashade is the Founder of Folad Education learning institute, where she provides quality education support to schools, training, consultancy, school decorations. She is married to Engr. Adejare Adebawo and they are blessed with two wonderful kids.