ACPL Members/Fellows Application

Join Africa’s Elite Leadership Community

Africa Centre for Public Leadership – ACPL is a professional leadership and standards-based community under the FLED International Leadership Institute, committed to advancing ethical, competent, and service-driven leadership across Africa and beyond.

Purpose: to build a community of public leaders and resource persons.

Admission into ACPL

ACPL admits Members and Fellows through a structured induction process designed to ensure alignment with professional standards, leadership maturity, and the values of the Fledism Leadership Philosophy.

90-Day Referral Window

April 1 – June 29, 2026

Who Should Apply

Applications are invited from:

Mid-career and senior professionals
Public servants and policy practitioners
Executives, administrators, and governance leaders
Individuals committed to ethical leadership and continuous professional development

Induction Process

Submission of application
Preliminary screening and eligibility review
Issuance of conditional offer (where applicable)
Pre-induction Orientaion
Formal induction ceremony

Fees and Financial Obligations

ACPL operates as a professional, non-commercial leadership body.

Induction fees are paid prior to admissions.

Apply Now

**L-R:** Amb. Alfred Nnam,hfpl, Uganda Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria; Dr. Ike Neliaku, hfpl, President, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations; and Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Etolue, hpfl, former Commissioner, Federal Civil Service Commission, after ACPL Induction in Abuja on November 12, 2024.

Why Join ACPL?

Membership of ACPL is earned through standards, formation, and accountability—not purchased through fees or titles.

Admission into ACPL signifies that a Member or Fellow has:

Undergone professional screening
Completed structured leadership orientation
Formally aligned with ACPL’s ethical and governance standards
Accepted ongoing professional and disciplinary obligations

ACPL recognition reflects credibility, seriousness, and responsibility in leadership.

Core Benefits Membership

Credible Professional Recognition

ACPL membership signals alignment with:

High ethical standards
Disciplined leadership conduct
Public-interest responsibility

This recognition is respected because it is standards-based, not ceremonial.

Leadership Formation Grounded in Fledism

Members benefit from leadership development rooted in the Fledism Leadership Philosophy, which emphasizes:

Character and judgment over charisma
Responsibility over visibility
Institutional thinking over personal ambition

ACPL explicitly rejects performative credentialism and symbolic leadership.

Mandatory Continuing Professional Leadership Development (MCPLD)

All members participate in structured annual leadership development, including:

Governance and policy learning
Ethics and accountability refreshers
Leadership practice updates relevant to African realities

MCPLD ensures members remain current, reflective, and competent.

Ethical Community and Peer Accountability

ACPL is a community of:

Serious professionals
Leaders accountable to shared standards
Individuals committed to ethical conduct in public and institutional life

Access to Leadership and Governance Resources

Members gain access to:

Policy briefs and leadership notes
Governance tools and frameworks
Research and publications from FLED International Leadership Institute

Eligibility for Institutional Service and Leadership Roles

Qualified members and fellows may be considered for:

ACPL Professional Standards Council and committees
Mentorship, facilitation, and advisory roles
Policy dialogues and leadership initiatives
Faculty Members at FLED Institute

These opportunities are by merit and service, not entitlement.

Professional Discipline and Reputational Protection

ACPL maintains:

A formal Code of Conduct
Clear disciplinary procedures
Due process for ethical and professional matters.

Distinction Between Membership and Fellowship

Members join a structured professional leadership community
Fellows are recognised for sustained leadership maturity, contribution, and service

Fellowship is responsibility-weighted, not merely given out.

Grounded in African Governance Realities

ACPL leadership formation reflects:

African public service ethics
Institutional capacity challenges
Context-specific leadership demands

Members are formed to lead where they are, not in abstract settings.

Long-Term Institutional Belonging

ACPL membership offers:

Career-long relevance
Cross-sector applicability (public, private, civic)
Enduring professional identity beyond individual ambition

ACPL builds leaders who think institutionally and long-term.

**L-T:** Ms. Adebunmi Ayeni, ppl; Engr. Bolly Avong, afpl; Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Etolue, hfpl; Dr. Ike Neliaku, hfpl; Prof Joseph Ibekwe; Amb. Alfred Nnam, hfpl; and Maj Prof Aku Amboson, (rtd), hfpl, after our Membership induction in Abuja on November 12. 2024

NEXT INDUCTION/INVESTITURE:

April 17 & June 25, 2026

Types of Membership

Membership Categories:

Member
Fellow (by qualification, experience, and contribution)

Admission into any category is standards-based and subject to review.

Application Processing Fee:
All applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application processing fee to support administrative review and professional assessment.

The application fee does not guarantee admission and is separate from induction or membership fees.

APPLICATION FEE

MEMBER : N5,000/$5

FELLOW: N10, 000/$10

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD DETAILED FEE STRUCTURE

MEMBERS

Student Member (spl) – Must be an undergraduate student in any tertiary institution in Africa or elsewhere.

Associate Member (apl) – Must be working in the private or public sector with a minimum of a Diploma and not less than 5 years of full-time employment.

Professional Member (ppl) – Must be working in the private or public sector, and possess a minimum of a first degree/HND, with no less than 10 years of work experience as entrepreneurs or public servants.

FELLOWS

Associate Fellow (afpl)– Must be a senior officer working in the private or public sector. You must possess a minimum of a Master’s Degree with no less than 15 years of work experience.

Fellow (fpl)– for Senior leader-managers in private or public service, including individuals that have made significant leadership impact. In addition, the person must possess a minimum of a Master’s Degree with no less than 25 years of continuous work experience. A Ph.D is an advantage, but not compulsory.

Honourary Fellow (hfpl) – Strictly by Invitation. Reserved for highly accomplished African leaders in the private and public service. Honourary Fellows are exempted from payment of Annual membership subscription fees. However, they are required to make a minimum one-off donation of N1m/$1000 in support of FLED Endowment Fund