Everistus Onwuzurike
Strategic Leadership Academy, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), in conjunction with Scripture Communication Network recently organised a leadership summit for staff and students of Benson Idahosa University, administrative staff and youth leaders.
The event with the theme: Communicating Leadership had industry top-rated leadership experts and academics as keynote speakers.
In his welcome address, the convener of the leadership summit, Dr. Mark Ighile, said the event was held to equip students with leadership skills and qualities of progressive leadership for success in various aspects of life.
According to him, if you can speak to a leader, you have spoken to hundreds of people. Leaders must learn to speak right in other to lead right.
Dr. Ighile said the summit would challenge students to strive for excellence and relevance, especially in this age of moral relativity.
Explaining the theme of the summit, Dr. Ighile, who also doubles as the Director of Academic Planning, Benson Idahosa University explained that many leaders are not productive because they lack the ability to communicate. It is effective presentation of ideas and vision that precipitates followership and fulfillment
Speaking on “work ethics and leadership branding,” one of the plenary session speakers, Dr. Isaac Awotanmi said: “ethical life helps your spiritual life and makes the evil depart from you.” He added that not all values are ethical values.
He told the participants that for them to become good leaders; they must first be good followers.
The former Provost of Apostolic Church Theological Seminary noted that there are many books on leadership but few books on followership.
Awotanmi advised youth leaders and scholars to treat people with dignity and be fair in all their dealings.
The Director, HR, Friesland Campina WAMCO, Tominiyi Oni, who spoke on “Raising talents through coaching and mentoring,” said that coaching and mentoring help to nurture young people for all they need in life to be successful.
Oni added that the world is changing, and because of this, the people of the world are changing too.As a result, he urged the students to find their purpose while they are still young.
“You can be good but with your purpose you will be great,” he said.
He advised leaders across the country to mentor and coach young people so that the future can be bright for all Nigerians.
On his part, the resident Pastor, Church of God Mission International, Rev. Dickson Ogbahon mentioned that leadership is an influence and is not being imposed.
He said a lot of people attend leadership summit but fail to exhibit the characteristics inherent in a leader.
“There are people with various leadership certificates but are not really leaders,” he said.
He reminded them that even though they are not leading anybody, they are leading themselves to a destination.
Present at the summit, were the former Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, Prof. Oyedeji, Dean College of Agriculture, Prof. Williams Molindo, Senior Pastor of Unique Christian Assembly, Pastor Joseph Abraham, staff and students leaders of Benson Idahosa University.