Monday 16 / September / 2024
Muscat: Oman’s biggest youth leadership event, entitled ‘I Am a Leader’ under the John Maxwell Team’s Global Youth Initiative was held earlier this month at Hotel Intercontinental Muscat.
The event was a huge success in which around 400 young people from over 25 institutions representing 21 nationalities participated and learnt the basics of leadership, importance of having a positive self-image, how failure can be a stepping stone to success, why inner strength is bigger than outside strength, significance of ethics & integrity and responsible use of social media.
Ann Al Kindi, vice chair of the National Youth Commission, Indramani Pandey, Ambassador of India to Oman and Abdullah Suleiman Hamed Al Harthy, chairman Al Sharqiya University were the guests of honour at this first of its kind event held in Oman. Nalin Chandna conducted this interactive session which saw a hugely inspired audience. Nalin is a certified leadership coach, trainer and an inspirational speaker who has been trained by New York Times bestselling author, leadership authority and speaker Dr John C. Maxwell.
The event was organised by The Lighthouse Consultants in association with the National Youth Commission. Both, Ann Al Kindi and Pandey while welcoming the idea of such an initiative, emphasised the importance of youth leadership and assured full support to future such initiatives which can help develop youth leadership in the country to enhance in-country value. The event saw participation from renowned schools and colleges such as Musa’b Bin Al Zubair School, Indian School Wadi Kabir, Al Seeb International School, Indian School Mabelah, Indian School Seeb, Indian School Muladha, Muscat College, Oman Dental College, Oman Medical College, Rustaq College of Applied Sciences among others.
One of the participating teachers remarked, “It was such an inspiring event, my students learnt a lot and we would love to have such a program to be conducted at our school for all the other students and teachers.” A parent who attended the programme with his daughter said, “Thank you for encouraging people to believe in their abilities. I appreciate the effort and time you took to inspire people with your insights, examples and experience. We really wish to be part of more such programs in the future.” Another student who almost cried while stating, “My perspective on failure has completely changed and I am so much positive about life after attending this valuable session.”
Chandna while speaking to the media stated, “Leadership develops daily, not in a day but the process starts with a single step. Today, these young boys and girls have taken this single step and are committed to being better leaders of tomorrow.”
Ajay Bhati, CEO and managing partner of Lighthouse Consulting, one of the most renowned business consulting firm in the region has pledged to continue to organise such events as a part of its CSR & Sustainability focus area. “We are very proud to be associated with GYI and National Youth Commission, today’s youth are future leaders, they will lead us to a new dawn, so any effort big or small that help instils leadership skills amongst youth will have a lasting effect in the future.”
