Prof. Peter Siyan, Chairman BOT, CILG Nigeria (2nd from left) presenting the plaque of induction as a fellow of CILG to Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, while Dr. Ojarotade the Regional Director of CILG Nigeria (4th right) and Hon Olatunbosun, BOT member (1st from left) watch on.
Proponents of better leadership and governance during the recent Chartered Institute of Leadership & Governance (USA), Nigeria Chapter, 2020 membership induction and investiture in Abuja, offered solutions to improve governance. DANIEL TYOKUA writes.
The Director General National Institute for Legislative and Democratic studies, National Assembly, and former minister of National Planning, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman who was chairman of the occasion, set the tone for discussion and advocated for inclusion of youths in leadership position.
He said the major challenge being faced by leaders is non inclusion of those that matters, and it must be taken serious to calm the nerves of those that are aggrieved.
In his words, “Whether we like it or not, the major problem in this country is inclusiveness, how do we get our youths to participate in governance?, whether we like it or not, the youth of a nation remain the critical actors in the nation.
“It is more worrisome and apparently in our country where 60% of our population are youth, unfortunately there is growing perception that the youth is left out by the Nigerian people, therefore key stakeholders should take the statistics very serious so that it will help in the area of planning for future development.
“Nigeria is in a trying period, our youths are asking questions, they want to be involved, 90% of graduates today are youths, the recent #EndSARS protests point to one fact, and that is, if legislation policies do not involve us and take up our interest, we will speak out”.
Prof. Sulaiman linked the challenges being experienced to the unwillingness and inability of leaders to rise to the responsibility of uncertainty.
“When these issues are taken serious, Nigeria will take its prideful place in the comity of Nation, if proper steps are not taken those that have property would not enjoy them because when the poor is not sleeping, the rich too must be awake, what informed this is ‘frustration and aggression’ theory, where the youth are frustrated to become very aggressive”
He advised people to always speak to the ills, in doing so, we must be frank to ourselves, “if we hide the truth, we are not helping ourselves.Youths as critical stakeholders in the country should be fully engaged”
In his keynote address at the occasion, Dr. Segun Ojarotade, Regional Director, Chartered Institute of Leadership & Governance, CILG, Nigeria, said the professional body was committed to promoting ways that will bring about harmony and peace at all levels.
He said the Institute hinged this year’s theme on ‘Effective leadership as a palliative to youth restiveness and economic diversification’ because it is more concerned with bringing light to dark places through sincerity, by championing ideas that will correct some ills in the society.
The Regional Director explained that the evils that hold Africa back will be overcome if the strategic Stakeholders play their roles well.
In his words, “Leadership is not about great gesture, but about what you can do to your neighbour and better someone’s future especially where you dwell, and your work place.
“It is about bringing light to a dark place, and sincerity. It has been my believe that most of the evils that are plaguing Africa are caused by lack of effective leadership. Today, our world particularly Africa needs a new generation of leaders, I think of a new generation of sons and daughters of Africa. Nigeria, the giant of Africa needs to arise.
“Nigeria needs to rebrand and change the narrative of leadership outside the world, I understand that the development of Africa is in line with leadership which is needed in the country at the moment”.
He asserted that making decisions at the right time is paramount and the choice of any organisation; responsible leadership is difficult yet needs fresh ideas to make a clear decision.
According to him, the Institute was doing everything possible to produce responsible leaders which he said made CILG to have held four leadership conferences/ induction ceremonies starting from 2018 till date.
The 2020 edition according to Dr. Ojarotade, took place in Lagos on December 3rd while the second leg took place in the nations capital, Abuja.
He described leadership as a way of providing comfort for people to live, and people must rise to it, while he called on the inductees to be awake to the responsibility of making positive impact in their places of work.
“I charge you the new inductees to ensure that purposeful and excellent leadership are evidence in all your professional dealings, and you should be a sincere and committed leader while carrying the tag of CILG as member”
In another lecture by comrade Jude Gabriel Imagwe, former Senior Special Assistant to former Nigeria’s president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on youth and students matters, said government should be featuristic in planning.
He believes that if good steps are adopted in planning there will always be positive results.
Imagwe asked political office holders to ensure that there is inclusiveness in decision and policies so that there will be clear understanding of issues.
“There should be inclusiveness in decision and policy implementation especially the youth. It should not be tied to Federal Government alone, there should be collective participation.
“There is failure to operate within the confines of leadership, there is always resistance that result to unrest. Young people should be involved in building a nation. Government should be accountable to the electorate” .
He stressed the need for government to set priorities or a template with a clear policy formation.
The 2020 induction and investiture programme cut across all areas of discipline with over a hundred members from all the geo-political zones of Nigeria inducted into the institute as fellows, full and associate members.
