Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI) Fellowship 2025-26 | 4th Cohort
- Omran Aburayya
- Oct 6
- 3 min read
If you are a young Nigerian passionate about public service and legislative change, the opportunity you’ve been waiting for is here — applications are now open for the 4th Cohort of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI).
This prestigious fellowship is designed to groom the next generation of legislators and public sector leaders, equipping them with leadership, legislative, and ethical governance skills.
📋 LMI 4th Cohort — At a Glance
Location: Nigeria (nationwide)
Organizer: Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI), anchored in the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS)
Type: Fellowship / Training programme (not academic degree)
Target Group: Young Nigerians (aspiring public servants, policy enthusiasts, legislative aspirants)
Focus Areas: Public policy, governance, legislative processes, leadership, democratic institutions, ethics, constituency engagement, drafting bills, parliamentary practice
Coverage: Fully sponsored fellowship (training, mentorship, accommodations, visits)
Duration: Several weeks / months (residential training + internships + remote engagement) — past versions ran for ~3 months in total
Application Deadline: (To be confirmed)
Programme Start Date: Typically soon after selection (sometimes December or early the following year)
Eligibility / Who Can Apply:
Citizenship: Nigeria
Age: 21 to 35 years old
Demonstrable leadership skills and record of community / public service
Fluent in English (written & oral)
Passionate about Nigeria’s stability, growth, legislative process, and public service
Willingness to commit fully to the programme and its values
🏛️ Fellowship Overview & Activities
The LMI fellowship is structured to combine several pedagogical and experiential components to build future legislators and governance leaders. Drawing on past cohorts and official program descriptions, here’s what participants can expect:
Training Modules / Workshops
The curriculum includes modules like:
Fundamentals of nation building, history of Nigeria’s constitution
Parliamentary democracy and the role of legislatures
Legislative drafting, motions, bills, reports
Constituency engagement, public policy and oversight
Emotional intelligence, stakeholder management, public speaking, ethics
Mentor Exchange (MenX Sessions)
Fellows get paired one-on-one with seasoned public sector leaders, legislators, policy practitioners for deep mentorship and guidance.
Learning Visits & Institutional Exposure
Past fellows visited institutions like the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), National Assembly, relevant commissions, and engage in meet-with-legislators events.
Simulations, Plenary & Mock Legislature
Fellows engage in simulations of parliamentary sittings, debates, motion drafting, model bills, campaign exercises, etc.
Internships / Practical Experience
Embedded internship placements with legislators, parliamentary offices, policy institutions to observe and participate in real governance work. Past versions included ~1-month internships.
Community Service / Alumni Projects
Fellows often do community outreach, public policy clinics, book reading events, or alumni-driven initiatives to maintain engagement beyond the fellowship cycle.
Showcase & Graduation
At the end, fellows present their final projects or policy proposals, network with mentors, and graduate into the LMI Alumni network.
🎁 What the Fellowship Covers
Fully sponsored access to training, learning materials, venue, and institutional exposure
Mentorship from experienced legislators, public policy experts
Internship placements and on-the-ground experience in legislative settings
Networking with peers, alumni, government actors
Certificates and credentials to strengthen your profile
Alumni connections and long-term engagement in Nigeria’s policy & governance space
✅ Eligibility Criteria (Detailed)
To be considered for the LMI 4th Cohort, applicants must usually satisfy:
Be a citizen of Nigeria
Be aged between 21 and 35
Possess a credible track record of leadership, community service or public engagement
Demonstrate fluency in English, strong communication skills
Show commitment to Nigeria’s development, democracy, and interest in legislature
Be able to commit full time to the fellowship’s schedule
Willingness to abide by the values of integrity, service, discipline
📝 Application Procedure
Here is how you typically apply:
Register / Sign up on the LMI application portal (via LMI’s official website).
Fill the online application form (questions about your background, leadership experience, vision)
Upload supporting documents — including:
A personal essay / statement
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A one-minute video (introducing yourself, your vision)
Letters of recommendation (if required)
Submit the application before the deadline
Shortlisting & Interviews : Applicants may be shortlisted for interviews or further screening
🧐 Extra Notes & Insights
Founding & Institutional Home
The LMI was founded by Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Nigeria’s former Speaker of the House of Representatives.
In recent reports, the LMI is anchored in the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) as its institutional host.
Scale & Previous Cohorts
By end of its 2nd cohort, LMI had graduated about 120 fellows in total (after first two cycles)
LMI publishes a fellowship programme report with details of sessions, partnerships, and alumni outcomes.
Support and Recognition
In 2025, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, Chairman of Federal Civil Service Commission, pledged support to LMI Alumni and invited them to the 4th Cohort event (scheduled December 16, 2025).
The alumni association is active and engages in events, policy dialogues, book launches etc.
Alumni Testimonials
Alumni often highlight the value of exposure, the rigor of the programme, the networking, and the transformation in their legislative and policy capacity.
