Skills Development
Vocational Skills & Active Labour Market Measures (ALMM)
Comprehensive, demand-driven technical training and apprenticeship linkages to bridge the 31.6% unemployment gap in Enugu State.
₦4,200,000 raisedGoal ₦10,000,000
LEADS Foundation
Empowering Skills, Transforming Lives
Community-Driven Development
Lighthouse for Empowerment, Advancement, and Development of Skills — empowering youth, women, and vulnerable populations across Nigeria through research and active labour market measures.
Touching Lives, Transforming Communities✦Community-Driven Development (CDD)✦Active Labour Market Measures (ALMM)✦Core Values: EPIC✦UN SDGs 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10 & 17✦
Touching Lives, Transforming Communities✦Community-Driven Development (CDD)✦Active Labour Market Measures (ALMM)✦Core Values: EPIC✦UN SDGs 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10 & 17✦
“In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us.”
— Flora Edwards, Founding Philosophy
Who we are
Community-driven impact. Sustainable futures.
Lighthouse for Empowerment, Advancement, and Development of Skills (LEADS Foundation) is a registered non-governmental, non-religious, not-for-profit, and non-political organisation committed to empowering youth, women, and vulnerable populations across Nigeria.
We implement Community-Driven Development (CDD) interventions through rigorous research, comprehensive vocational skills training, Active Labour Market Measures (ALMM), and advocacy for social justice, gender equality, and policy recommendations.
Our organisation & teamOperating Context
Responding to Critical Regional Realities
Headquartered in Enugu State, southeastern Nigeria, LEADS Foundation responds directly to structural employment challenges with demand-driven solutions.
7.6M+
State Population
Enugu State hub
74%
Youthful Population
High potential demographic
31.6%
Unemployment Rate
2020 NBS Poverty Report
5Js
Collaboration Model
Joint Research to Reporting
Strategic Focus Areas
Six pillars of sustainable development.
Holistic interventions combining technical training, advocacy, and economic inclusion to break systemic cycles of poverty.
View all focus areasEducation & Skills Development
Innovative vocational training, TVET partnerships, and Active Labour Market Measures (ALMM) tailored to market demand.
Empowerment & Livelihood
Enterprise support, startup toolkits, and economic pathways for youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWD).
Advocacy, Policy & Research
Social justice advocacy, campaigns against GBV, support for women's legislative representation, and evidence generation.
Flagship Programmes
Tangible initiatives creating verified change.
Explore active interventions addressing education, employment, and gender equality across our target communities.
View all programmes
Skills Development
Vocational Skills & Active Labour Market Measures (ALMM)
Comprehensive, demand-driven technical training and apprenticeship linkages to bridge the 31.6% unemployment gap in Enugu State.
₦4,200,000 raisedGoal ₦10,000,000
Economic Empowerment
Youth & Women Livelihood Support
Equipping vulnerable youth, women, and persons with disabilities (PWD) with seed support, enterprise toolkits, and market access.
₦3,500,000 raisedGoal ₦7,500,000
The 5Js Collaboration Model
Partner with us to transform communities.
We collaborate with public agencies, private enterprises, civil society, and international development partners using our rigorous 5Js methodology: Joint Research, Design, Implementation, Monitoring, and Reporting.
Explore Partnership
Community & Advocacy Engagements
On the ground and in the policy arena.
Discover our recent and upcoming stakeholder gatherings, technical workshops, and advocacy summits.
All engagementsAdvocacy & Social JusticeAnnual Campaign
16 Days of Activism against GBV with Enugu State TVET Board
Joint sensitization campaign against Gender-Based Violence in partnership with GIZ SKYE and the Enugu State TVET Board, promoting safe spaces and equity.
Advocacy & Social JusticeAnnual Campaign
16 Days of Activism against GBV with Enugu State TVET Board
Joint sensitization campaign against Gender-Based Violence in partnership with GIZ SKYE and the Enugu State TVET Board, promoting safe spaces and equity.
STEM & Vocational EducationQueens College Enugu
Girls in STEM Education & Technical Sensitization
Empowering young secondary school women to embrace technical skills, science, technology, and career pathways in high-demand economic sectors.
Events Gallery
Moments from the field.
Visual highlights from our vocational sessions, school outreaches, and stakeholder advocacy across Nigeria.
All events
16 Days of Activism against GBV
Snapped at: Enugu State TVET Board · With GIZ SKYE
16 Days of Activism against GBV
Snapped at: Enugu State TVET Board · With GIZ SKYE
Girls in STEM Education & Technical Sensitization
Snapped at: Queens College Enugu · Technical Career Day 2025
Girls in STEM Education & Technical Sensitization
Snapped at: Queens College Enugu · Technical Career Day 2025
Active Labour Market Measures & Vocational Training
Snapped at: Enugu Vocational Innovation Hub
Active Labour Market Measures & Vocational Training
Snapped at: Enugu Vocational Innovation Hub
Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding LEADS Foundation.
Have further questions about our governance, interventions, or partnership opportunities? Reach out directly to our team in Enugu.
Contact our teamFrom our journal
Insights, reflections & field perspectives.
Read our latest analysis on Nigeria's development challenges, collaboration models, and youth empowerment.
Explore the journalDevelopment Context5 min read
Responding to Nigeria's Development Challenge
Facing shrinking Official Development Assistance and high youth unemployment, LEADS Foundation implements community-driven active labour market measures in Enugu State.
Read storyMethodology4 min read
The 5Js of Collaboration: How We Partner to Deliver Sustainable Impact
From Joint Research and Joint Design to Joint Reporting, our collaborative model ensures long-term ownership, accountability, and community transformation.
Read storyYouth Empowerment4 min read
The Positive Youth Development Model: Agency, Assets, and Enabling Environments
How we build positive self-identity, vocational capabilities, and protective environments that inspire young people to flourish and realize their full potential.
Read storyYour place in the story