By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The COLE’ctive Initiative has unveiled plans to establish 23 virtual learning hubs across Rivers State as part of a new leadership development programme aimed at strengthening governance and civic responsibility.

The initiative, tagged COLE2Lead Policy and Leadership Accelerator, is designed to bridge the gap between political ambition and effective governance by promoting policy literacy, ethical leadership and active citizenship.

Inspired by Mr. Tonye Cole, the programme will operate across all 23 Local Government Areas of the state and is expected to engage more than 31,900 emerging leaders drawn from communities, professional bodies and youth networks.

According to the organisers, COLE2Lead underscores The COLE’ctive’s commitment to building inclusive systems that promote intentional leadership renewal rooted in community realities rather than political patronage.

Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Cole said leadership must be deliberate and anchored on competence and public accountability.

“Leadership should never be accidental. COLE2Lead is about preparing people to lead with clarity, competence and a deep sense of responsibility to the public,” he said.

He explained that the programme will establish 23 virtual learning hubs and deliver structured governance training across 319 wards in the state.

Participants, including members of civic platforms such as FREE2RUN Rivers, will undergo workshops and mentorship sessions focused on ethical decision-making and strengthening public service values.

Cole emphasised that the initiative seeks to demystify governance by equipping aspiring leaders with practical tools to understand public policy and lead with credibility.

By embedding leadership training within real civic engagement structures, COLE2Lead aims to create a sustainable pipeline of competent and accountable leaders across Rivers State.