*Okiki
Conference to equip secondary school prefects with leadership skills, integrity and a spirit of service
Book Fever, a youth focused organisation committed to promoting education, literacy, leadership development and personal growth among young Nigerians, is set to host the 2026 National Prefectship Conference, an initiative designed to transform how secondary school students understand and practise leadership.
Scheduled for Friday, October 23, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sam Shonibare Community Centre, Surulere, Lagos, the conference will bring together secondary school prefects, emerging student leaders, educators and other stakeholders for a day of leadership development, mentorship and knowledge sharing.
With the theme “Champions of Excellence,” the conference aims to equip young people with the values, competencies and mindset required to become responsible leaders in their schools and communities.
According to the Founder and CEO of Book Fever Bookstore, Ms. Alero Okiki, this year’s conference is designed to redefine the concept of prefectship in Nigerian secondary schools. She noted that the 2026 edition features significant improvements to its programme, distinguishing it from previous editions.
“For many students, becoming a prefect represents their first formal leadership position. However, at Book Fever, we believe that the significance of that position goes far beyond wearing a badge or holding a title,” Okiki said.
She added that prefectship should be more than a position; it should serve as a leadership laboratory. “It is one of the earliest opportunities young people have to understand responsibility, accountability, service and the impact of their decisions on others,” she said.
Organised around the belief that tomorrow’s leaders must be intentionally developed today, the conference will provide a platform for participants to learn from accomplished professionals, engage in meaningful conversations and acquire practical skills that extend beyond the classroom.
The Project Manager of Book Fever Bookstore, Franklin Odibo, emphasised the importance of developing leadership skills from secondary school, describing early leadership education as a potential pathway to addressing the leadership deficit in the country’s corridors of power.
Odibo disclosed that the 2026 conference will feature keynote presentations, interactive sessions, leadership conversations, practical workshops, mentorship opportunities and engagements with distinguished leaders and professionals across various sectors.
“Participants will be exposed to critical conversations around leadership, personal development, decision-making, integrity, entrepreneurship, communication, financial responsibility and the role of young people in building stronger communities,” he said.
He added that the conference would provide opportunities for prefects from different schools to interact, share experiences and learn from one another. “We are not simply gathering prefects; we are building a community of young people who understand that leadership is a responsibility,” Odibo said.
Through the conference, Book Fever aims to encourage a shift in students’ perception of leadership from authority and recognition to service, competence, integrity and positive impact. The initiative also seeks to inspire prefects to lead by example, foster cooperation among their peers and contribute meaningfully to their school communities.
Beyond the day’s activities, the conference is expected to create opportunities for students to establish relationships with fellow prefects, exchange ideas and build networks that can support their continued development as young leaders.
