Laboratory professionals are the backbone of public health, contributing their technical expertise to safeguard communities. However, the leadership skills necessary to manage laboratories often remain unaddressed in conventional trainings. By developing strong leadership skills, laboratory managers can effectively oversee not just the scientific aspects but also the human dynamics of a laboratory, including conflict management, team leadership and decision making.  Recognising this gap, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) International Health Regulations Strengthening Project (IHR-SP) pioneered a workshop designed to nurture leadership skills among public health laboratory leaders and managers considered to be of the next generation. This leadership training initiative has already made its mark in some UKHSA IHR-SP partner countries, and now, based on the needs assessment carried out, a bespoke approach tailored to the NCDC Public health laboratory department’s particular need of leading self, team, and effective communication, it is set to empower the next generation of leaders in Nigeria.

The Laboratory Leadership Training for NCDC Next Generation Leaders 2023 was held in the month of July 2023.The five-day workshop, ushered in by the Director General of the NCDC, focused on bridging the leadership and management gap that is often overlooked in technical training and infuse leadership skills into the technical acumen of laboratory professionals.

Using a blend of leadership and Organizational Development modules, the workshop created a platform for laboratory leaders to connect, share experiences, and learn from one another, forming a network that can amplify knowledge dissemination and foster collaborative problem-solving. The workshop also encouraged participants to align their roles with NCDC's strategic goals, ensuring that leadership efforts contribute directly to the agency's overarching mission. At the end of the five-day workshop, participants were made to explore and understand how leadership and organizational development principles can be practically applied to their specific contexts. Find below, short quotes from participants at the workshop:

• “Very impactful and relatable to my job role. Thank you!”
• “The training was awesomely beautiful and so much have been learnt, and will be put into work and practice, the facilitators should keep the good work and more trainings will not be a bad idea”
• “We need more of these training even for top levels”
• “This is the best impactful training, the modules were so precise”

The IHR-SP will continue to support the Laboratory Leadership Training for NCDC Next Generation Leaders 2023. Through this forum, the next generation laboratory leaders will not only enhance their skills but also create a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. This goes beyond just a simple leadership training; it is about magnifying the influence of public health endeavours on the upcoming generation of laboratory leaders on a one-on-one basis.