The C.L.E.V.E.R Club project, offshoot of the October 2009 Class project of NLI Associates, reinforces civics and character education amongst Nigerian Secondary School Students. In addition to training sessions for teachers and Principal, the project works with school prefects who are encouraged to initiate CLEVER Clubs to inculcate values for nation building.

The success of the CLEVER Club at King’s College Lagos resulted in a partnership with King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) in October 2011. KCOBA implemented leadership and values training utilizing NLI’s C.L.E.V.E.R CLUB curriculum.

KCOBA mobilized about forty (40) members to conduct interactive and activity-based classes over a six (6) week period. Seventy Six (76) students passed through the pilot programme with support from GlaxoSmithKline Nigeria Plc, OK Foods Nigeria Ltd, and FAB Magazine.

At the end of the pilot programme, KCOBA deemed its success significant and resolved to expand it to target all King’s College students during 2012. All students will undergo CLEVER curriculum during a six-week period over the next two years.

Students, parents, and school authorities described the CLEVER Project as novel with great potential of reorientation of the students on values. No other programme, in the educational curriculum, provided this same opportunity.

The KCOBA has also entered into a strategic partnership with the African Leadership Academy (ALA), South Africa, to develop and run a structured leadership development programme annually for King’s College students who display strong leadership potential. ALA, a world class pan-African secondary institution, is a training ground for the next generation of African Leaders.

According to NLI Associate Segun Olukoya, “leaders can be made if we catch them young.”