2022 Session 38: The role of mentorship in raising the next generation

• Itsekiri NextGen Project: 2022 Session 38 Report
• Topic: The role of mentorship in raising the next generation 
• Date: Saturday 08/10/2022 
• Volunteers Present: 5
• Total Number of Attendees: 71
• Timings: 9:00am – 1:00pm
• Venue: Former Caravan 4, Aja-Pessu (Pessu Town), Warri
• Resource Person: Debi Amadedon

Summary

The next generation is at risk of being exposed to social vices of different types hence the birth of Itsekiri NextGen project which is a mentorship programme for youngsters. The topic for the session which is the role of mentorship in raising the next generation is so much in line with the project.

Session Delivery

Prior to the 38th session, a survey on ‘who is your mentor’ was sent to different social media handles to have an idea of the different classes of people who people look up to as their mentors. A good number of people have religious leaders as their mentors. Others have philanthropists and businessmen/women as theirs.

Uwala Tedeye came up for the opening prayer, while Michell Tuedor raised the Itsekiri anthem to kick-start the session.

The session was facilitated by one of Itsekiri NexGen newest volunteers, Debi Amadedon.  He did outstanding work by taking the participants through the session Seamlessly, even though that was his first time.

He made the participants know that mentorship is a relationship established between a person who is more experienced and another who is a learner or not experienced in a particular domain. The domain can be science, music, religion, creative art, business, etc. The more experienced person is known as a mentor, while the learner is known as a mentee.

A mentor serves as a guardian, coach, support, trainer, advisor, etc. He/she should be able to motivate the mentee and must be a trusted person. A mentor can be found in the workplace, academic setting, community, religious setting, sports community etc.

Mentoring can be of different types, namely;

• Traditional mentorship: this involves one adult (mentor) and one young person (mentee).
• Team mentoring: this involves several adults working in small groups of young people. Itsekiri NextGen is a good example here.
•  Peer mentoring:  this involves a youngster mentoring another youngster. It is common in schools but can also be seen in religious places, sport environment and communities.

The interesting part of the session was when the participants were asked to come to tell who they look up to as a role model and who can subsequently be their mentor. Some responses were;

• Peter Obi (Presidential aspirant)
• Uwala Tedeye (project coordinator of Itsekiri NextGen)
• Abraham Drexel (an actor)
• Abraham Lincoln (Former US President)

Volunteers present also came out one after the other to tell who they look up to as role models and mentors ranging from politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders, philanthropists, musicians, advocates, community leaders, etc.

Mentorship comes with some associated risks. Some of these are;

• Unfair Manipulation by mentor on mentee
•  Over-dependence on mentor
•  Over or understructure
• Unrealistic expectations

There can also be bad mentors as well. Examples of bad mentors are;

• Those who tutor others on internet fraud, stealing, prostitution, etc.
• Those who initiate others into cultism, etc.

Key activities during the session 

Hon. David Mene, a former councillor of Pessu ward who is one of the beneficiaries of Itsekiri NextGen’s show of love on Independence Day but was unavoidably absent, was present at the session to receive his gift.