The Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja (UniAbuja), Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’allah, has reiterated the need to train the youth on leadership values to achieve the ‘New Nigeria of our dreams.’
Na’Allah stated this at the third induction ceremony of 140 students from the Abuja Leadership Centre, Tetfund Centre of Excellence in Public Governance and Leadership on Friday, in Abuja.
He said the problem of the nation today was leadership, adding that the youth needed to be mentored on time to imbibe the culture of good leadership.
“There is the need to start training the younger ones on good leadership, to ensure that in future they will be able to move Nigeria to that height, where it is supposed to be as a nation,” he said.
On this part, the Deputy Vice Chancellor/Director, Abuja Leadership Centre, Prof. Afaha Philip, said the centre was established to train Nigerians on the elements of good leadership.
Philip said that leadership was an act that was not inherit but must be taught certain aspects of leadership.
“We understand that everybody is born with some aspect of leadership in them but there are other things you need to be trained on concerning leadership that is why the centre was setup for training.
“We are looking on the whole gamut of leadership to see how we can upgrade the status of Nigerians in that sector.
“We say every now and then that leadership is the problem of Nigeria, the centre is looking at the possibility of reaching out to Nigerians to cultivate this idea of good leadership,” he said.
He said that the university was making efforts to train Nigerians on how to lead well, adding that it would not be achieved in one day.
He called on the inductees to do more than they have been taught and show what good leadership entails in their offices, communities and wherever they have the opportunity to lead.
Similarly, the President, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Dr Ike Neliaku, in his lecture; ‘Leadership and Politics: Towards a Paradigm Shift for Africa’ said when leaders demonstrate good leadership those they lead would celebrate them.
Neliaku said that there was need for leaders to rebuild trust in order to restore the confidence of their citizens, adding that Nigerians has distrust for their leaders.
“Bad leadership should not be contemplated. It ruins nation, citizens, family, the whole essence of society and in Nigeria this has been a major challenge that we are facing.
“We are beginning to build a new generation of Nigerians that will build the new Nigeria that will meet our dreams and unless we do that, we will just be deceiving ourselves.
“If you do not groom leaders don’t expect to have good leaders, what is going on today is grooming good leaders, ‘grooming’ new leaders that will have a new mindset to give new leadership to Nigerians,” he said.
He advised the inductees to always show genuine leadership to whatever role given to them, saying that they would be responsible for the legacies they leave behind.
Neliaku also said, “When people find themselves in leadership it is very important to realise that people are watching, therefore whatever you have to do, do it well.”
(NAN)