In a landmark initiative aimed at bridging the subnational leadership gap, the Executive Chairman of Kaduna South Local Government, Hon. Rayyan Hussain MPSCM FICA, officially launched the inaugural cohort of the Ray School of Civic Accountability & Leadership Excellence (RaySCALE) Fellows during the council’s Digi-Forward event held at the State House Banquet Hall.

The RaySCALE Fellowship is a non-partisan, 6-month intensive civic leadership initiative designed to empower youth aged 20 to 35 across all 13 wards of Kaduna South LGA. Developed in technical partnership with civil society organization Transparency & Accountability in Totality (TinT-FollowTaxes) and the Raycare Foundation, the programme draws structural inspiration from global benchmarks such as the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI).

The initiative trains young community organizers, student leaders, and early-stage entrepreneurs across three specialized tracks: Civic Engagement & Social Accountability, Entrepreneurship & Local Economic Development, and Grassroots Public Policy & Governance.

Officiating as the Special Guest of Honor, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Her Excellency Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, warmly applauded the initiative, commending Hon. Rayyan Hussain for creating a practical pipeline that invests in young people right at the community level.

"I must commend the Executive Chairman for this visionary step in establishing the RaySCALE Fellows initiative," Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe stated during her address. "Nurturing future leaders right from the grassroots is essential to sustainable governance. When we equip our young men and women with public finance literacy, ethical leadership skills, and policy tools, we are guaranteeing the long-term peace, accountability, and development of Kaduna State."

Elaborating on the strategic vision, Hon. Rayyan Hussain explained that the fellowship was conceived to transform youth energy into constructive civic action and economic self-reliance, directly aligning with the SUSTAIN Agenda of His Excellency, Governor Uba Sani CON.

"Building a new generation of leaders is our structural duty to the grassroots," Hon. Rayyan Hussain declared. "RaySCALE is a merit-driven framework designed to equip young residents with subnational budget literacy, enterprise skills, and governance exposure. By providing them direct access to LGA secretariat internships and mentorship, we are ensuring that Kaduna South is governed by capable, policy-driven leaders today and for generations to come."

The 6-month fellowship combines two months of foundational coursework with three months of specialized fieldwork within local government departments, culminating in a showcase where fellows present actionable policy briefs and community enterprise projects.