GOVERNOR BUNI’S MENTORSHIP: SHAPING THE FUTURE THROUGH GLOBAL LEADERSHIP

By Ibrahim hussaini tinja

Weeklong Leadership Fellowship at the CSIS | Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), Washington D.C.

“If we don’t build your capacity—if we don’t bring young people closer to the heart of public service—then we cannot hope to bridge the growing manpower gap caused by retirement and exit in the civil service.”— His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON.

I am deeply honored and profoundly grateful to His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, for once again investing in the next generation of leaders by nominating me to participate in the AILA International Fellowship—a weeklong leadership immersion at the globally renowned Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C.

CSIS stands as a beacon of thought leadership, a bipartisan, nonprofit institution committed to solving the world’s most pressing challenges. It is among the most respected voices on foreign policy and national security, providing a platform where emerging leaders are trained to think boldly and act ethically.

This fellowship represents more than just training—it is a transformational journey. Together with an inspiring cohort of fellows from across the U.S. and around the world, we engaged in critical conversations that addressed the intellectual, ethical, cultural, and strategic dimensions of leadership in the 21st century.

Each moment spent at CSIS reaffirmed a simple but powerful truth: Leadership is not about titles—it is about service, resilience, and purpose. The experience fostered collaboration across cultures, sectors, and disciplines—equipping us with the tools and mindset to navigate complexity with clarity and to lead with both competence and compassion.

From mastering Emotional Intelligence in Leadership at Qatar Skills Training Centre – Qatar, to understanding Risk and Organizational Leadership at the The London School of Economics and Political Science – LSE and now exploring The Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy (AILA) international fellowship at Csis Us Washington DC, His Excellency Governor Buni continues to provide us with exceptional platforms to evolve into the leaders our communities and country need.

This is how nations are built—by investing in people.

This is how we secure the future—by mentoring, empowering, and believing in the next generation.