By
J. ’Kayode FAYEMI, PhD., CON
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria
at the
Excellence in Leadership Conference 2015
Daystar Christian Centre, Oregun, Lagos
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
There is no doubt that, many an African youth has lost hope and are fed up with the difficulties in their societies. Dream again. It is worth noting that, in the 21st century, the riches of a nation is no longer determined by natural resources, military might or historical alliances but by the quality of her youth. As President Kufuor noted in his foreword; ‘the youthful stage in life is a time for taking important decisions, which could influence your life for good or bad’. No one can kill your dreams, train your self to acquire skills, set your horizons high, be positive minded and if you work hard, you would succeed in life. The book acknowledges that, in the end it comes to basic questions; ask yourself; what can I do to help myself achieve my dreams? To the society, ask what it can do to help the youth? To the policy maker, we should ask him if his policy proposals are creating the wealth of opportunities, and right environment required for youth development. And if there are ‘some’ policies in place, we must further ask him; can those policies enhance the aspirations of the youth? Can they help to build and sustain the youth in the 21st century? The future of every society is tied to the quality of its youth. It is important to note that, life is an organized continuous journey. It is a journey requiring patience, thought, guidance, planning, sacrifices, balance and strength. It is important to create a balance between passions, sentiments and selfish ambitions on one hand, with reality on the other, if you are to succeed in life. The Dreams of Our Youth advocates for giving traditional education prominence in a modern setting. Traditional education prepared the youth beyond skills to acquire character and values to enable them to contribute fully to meet the needs and challenges the society faced whereas the current educational and skills training environment emphasise more on academic knowledge. The youth is growing in a society where greed, wickedness, lies, deceit, fear and doubt are so common that, you may have come to accept them as part of the 'virtues' of life. We have the examples of our Founding Fathers to inspire many a youth to dream and work hard to achieve their dreams. They were not a perfect generation as no generation would ever be. They left footprints for the present. Many of them built Universities, laid foundation for Science and Technology, built dams, whole cities and townships, road infrastructure, Teaching Hospitals, Ministerial Infrastructures, and above all a Dream for a better future and a prosperous nation; a nation where the present generation sacrifices for the next and prepares for the future. There is no doubt that, the youth have a role to play in the transformation of the society. The roles they play come in various forms but to ensure their active participation in the society, it is important they get involved in decision-making and or role to play on national issues....
There is no doubt that, many an African youth has lost hope and are fed up with the difficulties in their societies. Dream again. It is worth noting that, in the 21st century, the riches of a nation is no longer determined by natural resources, military might or historical alliances but by the quality of her youth. As President Kufuor noted in his foreword; ‘the youthful stage in life is a time for taking important decisions, which could influence your life for good or bad’. No one can kill your dreams, train your self to acquire skills, set your horizons high, be positive minded and if you work hard, you would succeed in life. The book acknowledges that, in the end it comes to basic questions; ask yourself; what can I do to help myself achieve my dreams? To the society, ask what it can do to help the youth? To the policy maker, we should ask him if his policy proposals are creating the wealth of opportunities, and right environment required for youth development. And if there are ‘some’ policies in place, we must further ask him; can those policies enhance the aspirations of the youth? Can they help to build and sustain the youth in the 21st century? The future of every society is tied to the quality of its youth. It is important to note that, life is an organized continuous journey. It is a journey requiring patience, thought, guidance, planning, sacrifices, balance and strength. It is important to create a balance between passions, sentiments and selfish ambitions on one hand, with reality on the other, if you are to succeed in life. The Dreams of Our Youth advocates for giving traditional education prominence in a modern setting. Traditional education prepared the youth beyond skills to acquire character and values to enable them to contribute fully to meet the needs and challenges the society faced whereas the current educational and skills training environment emphasise more on academic knowledge. The youth is growing in a society where greed, wickedness, lies, deceit, fear and doubt are so common that, you may have come to accept them as part of the 'virtues' of life. We have the examples of our Founding Fathers to inspire many a youth to dream and work hard to achieve their dreams. They were not a perfect generation as no generation would ever be. They left footprints for the present. Many of them built Universities, laid foundation for Science and Technology, built dams, whole cities and townships, road infrastructure, Teaching Hospitals, Ministerial Infrastructures, and above all a Dream for a better future and a prosperous nation; a nation where the present generation sacrifices for the next and prepares for the future. There is no doubt that, the youth have a role to play in the transformation of the society. The roles they play come in various forms but to ensure their active participation in the society, it is important they get involved in decision-making and or role to play on national issues....
STATE OF THE SOLID MINERALS SECTOR AND WAY FORWARDKayode Fayemi
STATE OF THE SOLID MINERALS SECTOR AND WAY FORWARD
Presented by
Dr. ‘Kayode Fayemi, CON
Minister of Solid Minerals Development
at the Inaugural Media Briefing of the Ministry
on Monday, December 21, 2015
REFLECTIONS ON VALUES AND
THE BUILDING OF A SUCCESSOR GENERATION IN NIGERIA
Being the paper presented by
His Excellency Dr. Kayode FAYEMI
Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria
At the 1st Interdisciplinary Lecture of the School Postgraduate Studies, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
See whats happening right now in Nigerian Politics. Find the latest news on Nigeria News. Visit our website today...: https://elevatenews.com/nigerian-politics/
Historical perspective refers to understanding a subject in light of its earliest phases and subsequent evolution. The Road to Leadership is perspective differs from history because its object is to sharpen one's vision of the present, not the past. When historical perspective is overlooked in social research, researchers may draw misleading conclusions. Historical perspective expands research horizons by encouraging study of the relative stability of phenomena, providing alternative explanations for phenomena, and aiding problem formulation and research design.
Definition and Context
Historical perspective is the study of a subject in light of its earliest phases and subsequent evolution. Historical perspective differs from history in that the The comments of Lotte Bailyn, Steven Barley. Gibb Dyer, Meryl Louis, Edgar Schein, and John Van Maanen on an earlier draft of this paper are gratefuUy acknowledged. 307 whatever the future will bring (Maule, 1945) remains compelling. Horatio Alger and the Lone Ranger are heroes of this tradition. And in the real world, test pilots, astronauts, and computer engineers are idealized for pushing their lives past endurance in pursuit of progress (Kidder, 1981; Wolfe, 1979). In this future-oriented American vision, "history," as Henry Ford once said, "is more or less bunk" (Bartlett, 1968, p. 714). This vision is deliberately overstated to make a point: progress is a strong cultural value, and it is antithetical to the use of historical perspective. The statement "social] research has come a long way" presupposes that the present is both different from and better than the past. One cannot both dismiss the past as primitive and use it as a key to understanding the present. Thus, most social scientists tend to use the past only to measure historic progress, rather than to bring contemporary events into clearer focus. How does historical perspective focus research studies on the present? It provokes the major question: What elements in the findings or theory are trans-historical? Answering this question is one test of "grand" theory-separating that which is truly universal in human behavior from that which is not. However, given that much of social science is not universal, a second "midrange" question emerges: Within what time period are the findings and theory generalizable?
"We want to emphasise that we all have a stake in our government, in our new government. If we want to see change, we have to be the change that we want to see in our government." Source: Advocacy Beyond Borders
Leadership in Difficult Times- Strategies for Overcoming Challenges - Reflect...Kayode Fayemi
I had the honour of delivering a keynote lecture titled "Sustainable Leadership Strategies for a Troubled Nation: Reflections of a Scholar-Politician" at the Induction Ceremony for postgraduate students in the Public Governance and Leadership Programme at the Abuja Leadership Centre, University of Abuja.
In my presentation, I focused on demystifying leadership in the African governance context and highlighted the role of leadership in promoting a just and sustainable peace. While acknowledging significant investments in leadership development in Africa, I emphasised the limitations of focusing solely on individual leaders without a robust institutional framework. Successful leadership, I argued, involves teamwork within a well-established infrastructure, addressing complex interplays of policies, politics, and power.
I stressed that leadership goes beyond placing the right individuals in office; it requires managing socio-political currents, consensus-building, and addressing structural drivers of conflict, such as poverty and inequality. Leaders must invest in managing diversity, leading by example, and addressing root causes to promote just peace. I highlighted the importance of a well-thought-out plan when transitioning from campaigning to governing and the need for policies to align with a sustainable and well-consulted plan.
The following outlines strategies that, in my belief, can contribute to the improvement of good governance in our challenging environment. First, understand that leadership is teamwork, not a solo effort. Two, pay attention to the big picture with a nuanced understanding of societal dynamics and focus on solutions; three, have a realistic plan based on wide consultations but be flexible; four, think through how to put a team together and also fund your promises to the electorate; five, don't ignore your civil service or suffocate your government with external consultants; six, own your communication and engage the electorate constantly; seven, change in government is often incremental, not revolutionary. What makes incremental change enduring is sustainability. Eight, sustainability rests on seamless succession and succession planning since governance is a continuum.
Annual public lecture delivered by Her Excellency Erelu Bisi Fayemi, to mark the Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Chapter.
The purpose of this Book is to clear the misunderstanding of many Leaders in the corporate world. Those who believed and lived with the notions that best leaders are meant for the Corporate World and evolution of good leadership is in the world of business; I would want them to have a rethink as I explained the social and societal evolution of good leadership that has impacted the corporate world today. Please come along with me to some historical contextual truth derived from this concept of leadership. This book will deal with styles and concepts of leadership and help to build your understanding as to what is needed to be good leaders in Society. From Chapter to Chapter you will see the chronological order of leaders’ leadership and duty requires of them for better Society, Nations and the World at large.
When people talk about leadership, they mostly want to learn how to be good leaders at work. Leadership in the corporate context is one of the hottest topics in the world, and everyone wants to learn how to become a billionaire and be the best possible boss. However, leadership is not just limited to the work frontier; it extends to all of society. In fact, leadership began as a societal phenomenon much before it evolved into a professional one. In fact, many of the present-day leadership qualities that corporate and professional leaders aspire to are based on the social and political leaders of the yesteryears.
Human beings are social animals and living together in large groups naturally meant that people needed to adopt different roles and accomplish different groups. In order to give structure to society and help society grow and develop, people were naturally divided into leaders and followers. The leaders paved the way and moved from one frontier to another, directing the others, while the followers completed the tasks assigned to them and helped bring the changes about.
STATE OF THE SOLID MINERALS SECTOR AND WAY FORWARDKayode Fayemi
STATE OF THE SOLID MINERALS SECTOR AND WAY FORWARD
Presented by
Dr. ‘Kayode Fayemi, CON
Minister of Solid Minerals Development
at the Inaugural Media Briefing of the Ministry
on Monday, December 21, 2015
REFLECTIONS ON VALUES AND
THE BUILDING OF A SUCCESSOR GENERATION IN NIGERIA
Being the paper presented by
His Excellency Dr. Kayode FAYEMI
Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria
At the 1st Interdisciplinary Lecture of the School Postgraduate Studies, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
See whats happening right now in Nigerian Politics. Find the latest news on Nigeria News. Visit our website today...: https://elevatenews.com/nigerian-politics/
Historical perspective refers to understanding a subject in light of its earliest phases and subsequent evolution. The Road to Leadership is perspective differs from history because its object is to sharpen one's vision of the present, not the past. When historical perspective is overlooked in social research, researchers may draw misleading conclusions. Historical perspective expands research horizons by encouraging study of the relative stability of phenomena, providing alternative explanations for phenomena, and aiding problem formulation and research design.
Definition and Context
Historical perspective is the study of a subject in light of its earliest phases and subsequent evolution. Historical perspective differs from history in that the The comments of Lotte Bailyn, Steven Barley. Gibb Dyer, Meryl Louis, Edgar Schein, and John Van Maanen on an earlier draft of this paper are gratefuUy acknowledged. 307 whatever the future will bring (Maule, 1945) remains compelling. Horatio Alger and the Lone Ranger are heroes of this tradition. And in the real world, test pilots, astronauts, and computer engineers are idealized for pushing their lives past endurance in pursuit of progress (Kidder, 1981; Wolfe, 1979). In this future-oriented American vision, "history," as Henry Ford once said, "is more or less bunk" (Bartlett, 1968, p. 714). This vision is deliberately overstated to make a point: progress is a strong cultural value, and it is antithetical to the use of historical perspective. The statement "social] research has come a long way" presupposes that the present is both different from and better than the past. One cannot both dismiss the past as primitive and use it as a key to understanding the present. Thus, most social scientists tend to use the past only to measure historic progress, rather than to bring contemporary events into clearer focus. How does historical perspective focus research studies on the present? It provokes the major question: What elements in the findings or theory are trans-historical? Answering this question is one test of "grand" theory-separating that which is truly universal in human behavior from that which is not. However, given that much of social science is not universal, a second "midrange" question emerges: Within what time period are the findings and theory generalizable?
"We want to emphasise that we all have a stake in our government, in our new government. If we want to see change, we have to be the change that we want to see in our government." Source: Advocacy Beyond Borders
Leadership in Difficult Times- Strategies for Overcoming Challenges - Reflect...Kayode Fayemi
I had the honour of delivering a keynote lecture titled "Sustainable Leadership Strategies for a Troubled Nation: Reflections of a Scholar-Politician" at the Induction Ceremony for postgraduate students in the Public Governance and Leadership Programme at the Abuja Leadership Centre, University of Abuja.
In my presentation, I focused on demystifying leadership in the African governance context and highlighted the role of leadership in promoting a just and sustainable peace. While acknowledging significant investments in leadership development in Africa, I emphasised the limitations of focusing solely on individual leaders without a robust institutional framework. Successful leadership, I argued, involves teamwork within a well-established infrastructure, addressing complex interplays of policies, politics, and power.
I stressed that leadership goes beyond placing the right individuals in office; it requires managing socio-political currents, consensus-building, and addressing structural drivers of conflict, such as poverty and inequality. Leaders must invest in managing diversity, leading by example, and addressing root causes to promote just peace. I highlighted the importance of a well-thought-out plan when transitioning from campaigning to governing and the need for policies to align with a sustainable and well-consulted plan.
The following outlines strategies that, in my belief, can contribute to the improvement of good governance in our challenging environment. First, understand that leadership is teamwork, not a solo effort. Two, pay attention to the big picture with a nuanced understanding of societal dynamics and focus on solutions; three, have a realistic plan based on wide consultations but be flexible; four, think through how to put a team together and also fund your promises to the electorate; five, don't ignore your civil service or suffocate your government with external consultants; six, own your communication and engage the electorate constantly; seven, change in government is often incremental, not revolutionary. What makes incremental change enduring is sustainability. Eight, sustainability rests on seamless succession and succession planning since governance is a continuum.
Annual public lecture delivered by Her Excellency Erelu Bisi Fayemi, to mark the Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Chapter.
The purpose of this Book is to clear the misunderstanding of many Leaders in the corporate world. Those who believed and lived with the notions that best leaders are meant for the Corporate World and evolution of good leadership is in the world of business; I would want them to have a rethink as I explained the social and societal evolution of good leadership that has impacted the corporate world today. Please come along with me to some historical contextual truth derived from this concept of leadership. This book will deal with styles and concepts of leadership and help to build your understanding as to what is needed to be good leaders in Society. From Chapter to Chapter you will see the chronological order of leaders’ leadership and duty requires of them for better Society, Nations and the World at large.
When people talk about leadership, they mostly want to learn how to be good leaders at work. Leadership in the corporate context is one of the hottest topics in the world, and everyone wants to learn how to become a billionaire and be the best possible boss. However, leadership is not just limited to the work frontier; it extends to all of society. In fact, leadership began as a societal phenomenon much before it evolved into a professional one. In fact, many of the present-day leadership qualities that corporate and professional leaders aspire to are based on the social and political leaders of the yesteryears.
Human beings are social animals and living together in large groups naturally meant that people needed to adopt different roles and accomplish different groups. In order to give structure to society and help society grow and develop, people were naturally divided into leaders and followers. The leaders paved the way and moved from one frontier to another, directing the others, while the followers completed the tasks assigned to them and helped bring the changes about.
Being the paper presented by
His Excellency Dr. Kayode FAYEMI, Governor, Ekiti State, Nigeria At the INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE’S (IRI) AFRICA REGIONAL GOVERNANCE BEST PRACTICES CONFERENCE, MOMBASSA, KENYA
Alternative Politics, Political Alternatives, and Innovative Social Change in...Kayode Fayemi
Being Text of a Keynote Address Delivered by HE Dr Kayode Fayemi, CON, at the Conference on Redesigning Democracy Held at the University of Oxford on Thursday 20 October, 2022.
Productivity for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and EmploymentKayode Fayemi
Being the Keynote Address by
H.E. Dr. Kayode Fayemi, CON
Minister of Mines and Steel Development
Federal Republic of Nigeria
at the Annual Lecture of the
16th National Productivity Day organized by
THE NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE
LEADERSHIP FACTORS AND GOOD CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: KEY TO NATIONAL GROWTH AND ...Kayode Fayemi
Paper by His Excellency
J. ’Kayode FAYEMI
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria
at the 2015 Edition of the
Akintola Williams Distinguished Lecture Series
Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, Nigeria
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Intellectuals In Politics And Governance In Africa: The Lessons And Legacies ...Kayode Fayemi
the text of the paper by His Excellency
Dr. John Kayode Fayemi
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria
At the 3rd Annual John Atta Mills Memorial Lecture
Accra, Ghana
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
19 Ekiti State House of Assembly Members Letter Kayode Fayemi
19 APC members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly writes the Minister of Finance, Body of Attorney generals and Minister of Works denouncing the appointment of Commissioner for works, Commissioner for finance and Commissioner for justice in the state.
As the last child in the Fayemi household, my arrival was heralded with song and dance. Although my birth elicited genuine excitement on the part of my siblings, it was for my mother a cautious welcome. My mother’s caution was understandable having lost a boy and two girls in quick succession before my arrival.
Monitoring Health for the SDGs - Global Health Statistics 2024 - WHOChristina Parmionova
The 2024 World Health Statistics edition reviews more than 50 health-related indicators from the Sustainable Development Goals and WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work. It also highlights the findings from the Global health estimates 2021, notably the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on life expectancy and healthy life expectancy.
Donate to charity during this holiday seasonSERUDS INDIA
For people who have money and are philanthropic, there are infinite opportunities to gift a needy person or child a Merry Christmas. Even if you are living on a shoestring budget, you will be surprised at how much you can do.
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-to-donate-to-charity-during-this-holiday-season/
#charityforchildren, #donateforchildren, #donateclothesforchildren, #donatebooksforchildren, #donatetoysforchildren, #sponsorforchildren, #sponsorclothesforchildren, #sponsorbooksforchildren, #sponsortoysforchildren, #seruds, #kurnool
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Presentation by Jared Jageler, David Adler, Noelia Duchovny, and Evan Herrnstadt, analysts in CBO’s Microeconomic Studies and Health Analysis Divisions, at the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists Summer Conference.
Understanding the Challenges of Street ChildrenSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-individuals-can-support-street-children-in-india/
#donatefororphan, #donateforhomelesschildren, #childeducation, #ngochildeducation, #donateforeducation, #donationforchildeducation, #sponsorforpoorchild, #sponsororphanage #sponsororphanchild, #donation, #education, #charity, #educationforchild, #seruds, #kurnool, #joyhome
ZGB - The Role of Generative AI in Government transformation.pdfSaeed Al Dhaheri
This keynote was presented during the the 7th edition of the UAE Hackathon 2024. It highlights the role of AI and Generative AI in addressing government transformation to achieve zero government bureaucracy
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
1. PROMOTING STEWARDSHIP IN PUBLIC SERVICE
By
J. ’Kayode FAYEMI, PhD., CON
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria
at the
Excellence in Leadership Conference 2015
Daystar Christian Centre, Oregun, Lagos
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Protocols and Introduction
Let me start by thanking my friends Pastors Sam and Nike Adeyemi and the leadership
of Daystar Christian Centre for the opportunity given to me today to share some of my
thoughts on a very important topic with this distinguished audience. Pastor Sam
provided a very broad shoulder to lean on in my years in office as Governor of Ekiti State
and I remain greatly indebted to him for his constant prayers and wise counsel. It is
always a delight to watch from a distance the good work that this ministry is doing in
advancing the life and the light of God in this increasingly perverse world. I count it a
rare privilege to participate in the very noble effort that the Excellence in Leadership
Conference is, which I have been made to understand, serves the purpose of extending
the frontiers of the Church’s influence beyond the four walls of brick and mortar, in
shaping every area of our national life with our transcendent values and ultimately
raising role models.
As I contemplated on the theme of this conference – Promoting Stewardship in Public
Office – I could not help but reminisce on an event I attended as a guest speaker
sometime in February 2013, organized by a group called the “Apostles in the
Marketplace (AIMP)”. The event had a similar focus and I remember the paper I
delivered that day was titled “Christians in Politics: The Challenge of Transformative
Public Engagement”.1
It is interesting to note that many of the participants at that event
over 2 years ago have gone on to deepen their participation in politics and governance
at different levels, and by the grace of God my brother and friend who was a co-speaker
at the event, Pastor Yemi Osinbajo has gone on to become our Vice President, while one
of the conveners and Chairman of the Board of the AIMP, Mr. Okechukwu Enalamah
and I, has been confirmed to serve in President Buhari’s cabinet alongside other faithful
servant leaders. I hope this session will similarly inspire as many of us as possible to get
more involved in politics and public service, even as I pray God opens more doors for
1
“Christians in Politics: The Challenge of Transformative Public Engagement”, Chapter 12 in the book Regaining the
Legacy by J. ’Kayode Fayemi, Amandla, 2013
2. Page 2 of 13
more Godly men and women of faith to attain strategic positions in the public sphere as
we work together to redeem the desolation of our land and generation.
The Need for a New Model of Leadership
In 1983, Chinua Achebe wrote, The Trouble with Nigeria, in which he offered his famous
diagnosis of Nigerian society: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure
of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or
water or air or anything else. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its
leaders to rise to the responsibility [and] to the challenge of personal example which are
the hallmarks of true leadership.”2
Achebe’s theory of leadership failure is one of the
most frequently quoted statements about Nigeria. It was a damning critique of Nigerian
elites that has continued to resound even after three decades that the notion of an
overarching leadership failure as the root of our society’s ills has almost become a cliché
trotted out by everyone including successive generations of leaders to explain our
chronic national underperformance.
Without a doubt, the need for us to evolve a new paradigm of leadership on our shores
has never been more urgent. The nation is undergoing a period of economic uncertainty
occasioned by declining oil revenues. At the same time, a fast growing population poses
pressing questions in terms of the challenges of feeding, housing, educating, employing,
managing and leading tens of millions of citizens, levying new demands for public goods.
There has been a breakdown of societal values and a corresponding degradation of vital
social and moral institutions.
The most pungent expression of these issues is to be found among young Nigerians who
constitute the country’s largest demographic category. A lot of our youth no longer see
a clear, scrupulous path to a decent and fulfilling life. Many of our young people are
entranced by the possibilities of upward social mobility inherent in fraud and a variety
of get-rich-quick schemes that reflect our societal bias for instant gratification. Others
have been initiated into terrorism and political violence. If leaders are role models and
influencers, what sort of leadership are we modeling for our young compatriots? What
sort of examples are we setting for them from our places of privileges high up in the
pinnacle of society? What kind of leadership will inspire, mentor and rally them towards
a greater sense of purpose?
The sort of paradigm of leadership that prevails in any society is predicated on how that
society answers a vital moral question. Is power for self-aggrandizement or is it for
serving the common good? If a society comes to believe that power is for self-
2
Chinua Achebe, The Trouble with Nigeria (Fourth Dimension Publishers 1983) p.1
3. Page 3 of 13
aggrandizement, then public office and leadership will be marked by hyper-
authoritarianism, corrupt enrichment and dysfunction. There is a clear difference
between a leadership that preserves the common good and a leadership that promotes
the affluence of a privileged minority. The former creates a climate of inclusion, unity
and mutuality. The latter fosters imbalances, inequalities and inequity.
Looking back at Nigeria’s socio-political trajectory, it is no mystery as to which
leadership model has been ascendant for much of our history. Despite the riches and
natural endowments with which Nigeria has been providentially blessed, the benefits of
our commonwealth have not been equitably distributed. Wide disparities of income
persist and millions of Nigerians still live in grinding poverty. For such a young
population, lack of legitimate means of social mobility breeds social discontent and
unrest thus explaining the escalation of crime and conflict across Nigeria in recent years.
While it is true that abuse of power and impunity are as much a reality of leadership in
every sphere of national life as it is with the public sector, leaders in the public sector
bear more responsibility as those with the vested authority to utilize the instruments of
office in moderating the conduct of the citizenry. More importantly, public sector
leaders usually have the charisma that endears people to them, making it possible to
influence their behaviour. Nigerians are good followers and will key into whatever is
modeled by our leaders. We do what we see our leaders do, not what we have been
asked to do. If leaders lead with integrity, the message will be clear that this is a nation
of honest people, who believe in hard work and integrity. These values from the public
sector will effectively translate into other spheres.
Clearly, we need a new paradigm of leadership in Nigeria. We need a new definition of
leadership which cuts to the core essence of the social contract between government
and the governed, and recognizes that the people have the power, and leaders are
servants empowered by the people to do their bidding. As the old order that never
worked for us is becoming obsolete, we need to embrace the emerging order of Servant
Leadership, largely energized by the power of personal example modeled by President
Buhari, who the Almighty God who rules in the affairs of men, in His wisdom, has chosen
as He did King David in biblical times3
, to lead Nigeria at this auspicious time with the
integrity of his heart.
3
Psalm 78 verse 72, King James Bible
4. Page 4 of 13
Defining Servant Leadership
Robert K. Greenleaf (1904–1990) is credited as being the first to coin the phrase
“Servant Leadership” in The Servant as Leader, an essay he first published in 1970 but
which had subsequent editions.4
I agree with a lot of Greenleaf’s submissions and urge
further reading of his works, being one of the greatest contributors to the body of
knowledge on the subject of our discourse. Though most of his work sought to address
the power-centered authoritarian leadership style that was prominent in institutions in
the United States during his time, there are key lessons which are relevant to our
contemporary Nigerian experience.
However, the concept of Servant Leadership is timeless. The greatest teacher of all
times, our Lord Jesus dedicated much of His teachings to this important concept, giving
instructions to both leaders and followers that transcend the spatio-temporal context of
His admonitions. He famously contrasted authoritarian models of leadership with His
prescribed paradigm of servant leadership while expressly rejecting the former. He
repudiated the leadership culture of His day that was characterized by hypocrisy,
ostentation and blatant abuse of authority and warned His followers not to “lord it
over” those under them. He called for a radical change in the style and substance of
governance – a call that is still very relevant today.
The concept of servant leadership may be difficult to readily grasp but its defining
features are humility and service. Authoritarian leaders perpetuate an alienating gulf
between themselves and the people they lead which in turn fosters a master-servant
dynamic. In contrast, servant leadership inverts this dynamic by defining leadership as a
position of service. At the risk of appearing to be sermonising or spiritualising an
otherwise secular concept, I submit that the life and ministry of Jesus is one of the
greatest models of Servant Leadership that we all need to learn from in developing a
new paradigm of leadership that puts the people first.
Servant Leadership, Legitimacy and Moral Authority
Still on the point that Servant Leadership is a derivative of God’s design for man, the
theme of servant leadership is deeply connected to the idea that leadership is a trust
and that all power comes from God. Above the structures and systems of governance
stands a great sovereign from whom ultimate legitimacy flows. The idea of a
transcendent authority above all earthly sovereignty is readily acknowledged in various
religious and moral traditions. The bible tells us in the 13th
chapter of Apostle Paul’s
4
See Greenleaf, R. K. (2002). Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and
Greatness (25th anniversary ed.). New York: Paulist Press.
5. Page 5 of 13
letter to the Romans that “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is
no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.”5
It is variously
articulated as a higher power or a higher law, but whatever its depiction, the point being
clearly made is that earthly institutions do not have the final say over the fate of people.
Leaders must still answer to a higher power.
The ancient Chinese sages defined this standard of transcendent morality as “the
Mandate of Heaven” – a crown of legitimacy that inhered in governments that rule
according to the dictates of justice and ethics. In Chinese philosophy, heaven would
bless the authority of a just ruler but would withdraw its mandate from an unjust ruler.
The mandate of heaven would then be transferred to those who are better suited to
rule according to the dictates of higher morality.
The mandate of heaven is a metaphor for the moral legitimacy of rulers but it also
points to the need for leaders to be on the right side of history. One of the defining
traits of servant leadership is a consciousness of that transcendent sovereignty in which
true legitimacy resides and the awareness that they will be weighed on scales more
consequential than those of the media or critics.
Servant leadership defines power as a part of a social covenant that frames the
relationship between the leaders and the people they lead. We can see a new moral
principle which holds that the only authority deserving of one’s allegiance is that which
is freely and knowingly granted by the led to the leader in response to, and in
proportion to, the clearly evident servant stature of the leader. Those who choose to
follow this principle will not casually accept the authority of existing institutions. Rather
they will freely respond only to individuals who are chosen as leaders because they are
proven and trusted as servants. To the extent that this principle prevails in the future,
the only truly viable institutions are those that are predominantly servant-led. 6
Servant Leadership in the Public Sector
This relationship between servant leaders and the led underpins public sector
governance in modern societies especially within the context of a democracy.
Democracy is by itself a contract, not a process. Democracy is based on one
fundamental assumption: Society, through a process that is open and transparent,
agrees to cede its individual power to some among its ranks, who exercise it with the
aim of achieving a general will of the society rather than the private wills of all of
5
Romans Chapter 13 verse 1, King James Bible
6
See Greenleaf, R. K. (2002). Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and
Greatness (25th anniversary ed.). New York: Paulist Press.
6. Page 6 of 13
society. In order to achieve this, the appointed individuals, under an institution known
as government, develop norms and rules that are agreed on by the society, and which
form the basis of the contract. It is the responsibility of the appointed individuals and
the larger society to adhere to these rules and norms – often seen in constitutions, state
structures, national visions and policies that direct development and governance of the
society.7
This is the basis of not just democratic governance but of all types of
governance. No government can exist without the consent or at least the acquiescence
of the majority of the people.
It is my understanding of the foregoing concepts that guides my involvement in public
service and governance. Furthermore, as someone who cut his teeth in leadership early
in life by serving as an altar boy – a mass server in the Catholic Church, the defining
principle that has informed my passionate involvement, from my years in student
activism in high school and university to the frontlines of pro-democracy activism in
exile and now in politics and public office, has been the idea of serving a higher purpose
in the public square and locating the right vocational channels through which to
actualize my obligations as a man of faith to God and country.
I am therefore pleased to share from my modest experience, insights on 5 defining
characteristics of Servant Leadership and its advantages in bringing about better peace
and development outcomes in our country.
Servant Leaders in the Public Sector Produce Successors
A key leadership deficit evident both in the realms of public sector governance and
indeed every sphere of our national life is the failure to facilitate succession planning.
This failure is traceable to the dominant model of leadership in our institutions which
we earlier identified as typically authoritarian and dictatorial. In politics and in many of
our public sector institutions this paradigm has effectively created personality cults in
which fawning loyalty rather than competence dictates the allocation of reward and in
which divergent thinking, innovation and initiative are punished while servile group-
think is rewarded. In such environments, members who are desirous of prolonging their
careers tend to blend in rather than exercise initiative, thereby crippling their leadership
potentials. Many politicians and public servants run public offices as personal fiefdoms
which cease to function effectively whenever they are physically absent.
In such dysfunctional organizations, leadership is seen as being vested in a single
authority figure rather than as a function diffused among several empowered actors.
Leaders in these environments tend to be psychologically insecure and are simply
7
https://africaplatform.org/social-contract-as-foundation-to-state-society-relations/
7. Page 7 of 13
unable or unwilling to mentor and empower their subordinates. Under these
circumstances the executive impulses of young potential leaders are stifled and they are
not effectively equipped to undertake greater responsibility. The only types of
personalities that rise in these settings are those who are equally insecure and
egotistical. Having become adept in the dark art of survival in repressive official
environments, they eventually assume high office only to reprise the authoritarian
styles of their predecessors, perpetuating a circle of mediocrity.
Servant leaders are not self-perpetuating and insecure. They don’t arrive in positions of
authority unprepared for the demands of authentic leadership. They are empowering of
others. They connect success with succession meaning that they measure their success
not in terms of how much they have been able to hoard power but by how much they
have been able to distribute it among others thereby enabling a greater multitude to
achieve their own potentials. They are not arrogant to think of themselves as infallible
or indispensable. By preparing and mentoring others to succeed them, servant leaders
demonstrate a keen sense of their humility and dispensability in the scheme of things.
This is a challenge to us; both current and aspiring public servants, to pay attention as
true Servant Leaders, to building a successor generation that can sustain and build upon
our efforts in the making of a new Nigeria through rigorous succession planning.
Servant Leaders in the Public Sector as Good Listeners
I have never seen a good servant who acts on his or her own accord. Every servant takes
instructions from the one at whose pleasure he or she is appointed to serve. Many of us
in our individual lives and careers have little patience for opinionated subordinates who
refuse to take instructions, and we speedily reverse the employments of such people
classified as recruitment errors. In the same way, Servant Leaders are good listeners
who craft their programmes and policies only after seeking input from all stakeholders
especially the majority of the people at the grassroots who they represent. Even in our
pre-colonial traditional societies where the monarch is seen as the embodiment of all
authority and power, every member and every household of the community had a say in
the matters of collective interest. Governance was based on widespread consultation in
the village square that broadened the pool of opinion and the building of consensus. In
the end, the decision, though sanctioned by a chief or a king, had to be a collective one
of which he was just the instrument of execution.8
8
Imperatives for Successful Sub-National Governance in Africa, Chapter 6 in the book Regaining the Legacy by J.
’Kayode Fayemi, Amandla, 2013
8. Page 8 of 13
To be truly effective, the design of programmes and policies by public servants has to
emanate from the people’s perception of their own needs. In this sense, the limitation
of leadership in Nigeria is our emphasis on the conduct of elections often at the expense
of the democratic relationship between the government and the governed. We have not
yet come to see that democracy means participatory governance which in effect means
that policies are generated from the bottom-up not imposed from the top-down. There
is a hubris which occasions leaders presuming to know far more about the people’s
problems than the people themselves. This paternalistic attitude causes us to prescribe
solutions that often have no relation to the challenges on ground and consequently
devise strategies that are unworkable. 9
Yet, there are times when leaders armed with
greater insight and a more dispassionate appraisal of the challenges, must stand up for
what they believe is in the best interest of the majority and not be afraid to stand alone.
Times when short term populism must not be allowed to take the place of the long term
interest of the people. Even then, conveying such positions to the public is an exercise in
effective public communication.
Despite the tonnage of well-intentioned and even altruistic efforts to fight poverty in
Africa, these programmes fail because they are largely imposed on the people by
political elites. They have no buy-in at the grassroots level. For development plans to
work, the people have to take ownership of their conception and drive their execution.
For this to be the case, the development goals have to be generated by citizens and tally
with their own needs and aspirations. A more meaningful approach to policy conception
and execution calls for us to adopt a more robust posture of listening and attentiveness
attuned to the pulse of the communities on the receiving end of our initiatives. This
means a return to the ethos of consultation and consensus that our forefathers used to
good effect. In our times, this can be interpreted as the forging of strategic partnerships
between public servants and civil society organizations and other non-state actors that
help to articulate the frustrations and the priorities of the people. 10
Servant Leaders in
the Public Sector absolutely have to listen.
Servant Leaders in the Public Sector and the Power of Personal Example
Servant Leaders lead by example. They demonstrate in their private and personal
conduct the type of behaviour they require from the people. We have unfortunately had
a dearth of servant leaders in the public sector who inspire us with their personal
integrity. Furthermore, our society has been socialised to entertain dichotomies that
fragment life into separate, often disconnected domains. Thus, many of us believe there
is a wide gulf that separates the private from the public, the personal from the
9
Ibid
10
Ibid
9. Page 9 of 13
professional, and the moral from the practical. The consequence of this belief is the
notion that we can and often act according to different dictates in these realms. So, for
example, we might preach virtue and rectitude at home while participating in public
theft and corruption. When legislators brawl in the glare of television cameras, it rarely
occurs to us that these law makers are also parents who surely in their homes admonish
their children to be of good behaviour in school. A parent who rages against stealing at
home may be involved in creative accounting at the office.
Obviously, the result of such dissonance is hypocrisy which does not escape the notice
of the next generation. They take note of the inconsistencies and contradictions
between what we say in private and what we do in public. Indeed, few people are as
adept at spotting such hypocrisies as children. They lose faith in our utterances and our
moral authority begins to wane. Most tragically, they learn that “talking the talk” need
not necessitate “walking the talk.” The fragmented view of life that entertains these
dichotomies is incompatible with servant leadership which manifests through the
example of a whole and holistic life of integrity. In this regard, an authentic servant
leader is one who exemplifies constancy across the various domains that he or she is
involved in. In sum, authentic servant leadership is defined by personal integrity.
Integrity is usually understood as a virtue synonymous with honesty. Integrity comes
from the same etymological root as the verb “integrate.” It conveys a sense of
wholeness and coherence and is used by engineers when they say “structural integrity”
to mean when a structure holds together firmly. To live with integrity therefore means
to live an integrated existence or to live a whole life. Living and leading by integrity
entertains no dichotomy between the personal and the professional, the private and the
public or the moral and the practical. Indeed, for the servant leader, leadership is not
merely a position or a title that one assumes somewhere. Leadership is not what we do;
it is who we are. Servant leadership is therefore more about how one lives than how
one leads. It is a lifestyle.
True leadership is something quite distinct from holding an office or a position. We will
enhance the quality of leadership on our shores if we dissociate it from the acquisition
of titles and positions. True leadership is influence. It is driven by core convictions,
values and ideas. In a profound sense, leadership is living out one’s values and ideas. It is
the sheer power of personal example that projects influence.
Servant Leaders Must Demonstrate Competence
Servant leaders must offer substance and not just style. Looking back at a passage in the
bible we touched on earlier, Psalm 78 verse 72 gives us an insight into why David was
10. Page 10 of 13
such a great leader in his time. We are told that “David shepherded them with integrity
of heart”, and also “with skillful hands he led them”. 11
The fact that God Himself
testified that David was a man after His heart did not stop him from acquiring a pretty
impressive résumé for his time – shepherd, writer, poet, musician and songwriter,
astronomer, temple designer, warrior, administrator – and he excelled in all. Integrity is
not enough, skill or competence is equally essential for effective leadership in all realms
of life. 12
It is common to come across individuals at the centre of high-profile scandals who are
very skilled, persuasive, powerful leaders but who lack integrity, conversely, we also
have people who are well-thought of, well-liked, and with good intentions, but who are
limited in their ability to get things done effectively because they lack the knowledge
and competence. 13
The armoury of leadership must contain a huge stock of competence in anyone who
aspires to lead. The next generation of leaders must therefore be distinguished not by
wealth or their possession of shiny trinkets but by the quality of their thoughts and
ideas. Those who control the levers of the knowledge economy now control the world.
In our contemporary context, the primary index of governmental capacity is intellectual
capital. Governance is knowledge based, ideas centered and data driven, with service to
the people as its sole motivation. Today, Servant leaders are expected to innovate and
generate creative solutions to the challenges their people face. Our readiness to
compete effectively in the 21st
century global economy is measured by, among other
factors, how much commitment we show to knowledge production and intellectual
reflection in our political culture and leadership selection process.
Servant Leaders in the Public Sector and Empathy
The servant leader is first of all a servant who takes care to ensure that other people’s
greatest needs are being met and that those people, while being served are the better
for it and are increasingly empowered to be independent. In contrast to the old notions
of the leader as a power-wielding figure, the servant leader is one whose first
responsibility is to consider the needs of others and to create conditions where the led
can become leaders themselves.
11
Psalm 78 verse 72, New International Version of the Bible
12
FORWARD! Integrity of Heart, Skillfulness of Hand by Clyde Kilough, on
http://www.ucg.org/unitednews/forward-integrity-of-heart-skillfulness-of-hand
13
Ibid
11. Page 11 of 13
Often leadership positions have the effect of alienating leaders from those they are
meant to lead. In time, the leader becomes so entrapped by the perks of office that he
can no longer relate with the people. Their needs become alien to him and he is thus
unable to address their problems because he can no longer see himself as part of the
people. We have a situation in which our leaders are far removed from the effects of
dysfunctional health systems because they fly abroad to avail themselves of better
healthcare in more functional countries just to treat common ailments, or a situation
where public servants cannot relate with security challenges because they have been
assigned personal security details by the state. In such instances, public servants have
the tendency to allow the privileges of office and the superficial honorifics used in
addressing us to get to our heads – “His Excellency”, “Honourable Minister”,
“Distinguished Senator” e.t.c, and lose the essential grounding in our common
humanity.
This is why President Buhari on assumption of office humbly requested to be spared
such inanities. In this regard, servant leaders demonstrate empathy by remaining
humble enough to see themselves as being one with the people. They are great
communicators who know how to keep their fingers on the pulse of the people. They
have the challenge of ensuring that those that have their ears are people who tell them
the truth and not what they want to hear. Sycophants have done a great deal in ruining
the legacies of many leaders and they are never in short supply in the famed corridors of
power.
In emphasizing this point, I will like to borrow again from the example of Jesus as the
greatest model of Servant Leadership. Christians are encouraged in our faith by the
scriptures in the book of Hebrews, which in contrasting the priesthood of the Old
Testament and the Priesthood of Jesus, states that “Seeing then that we have a great
high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast
our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling
of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”14
The
greatest legitimacy Jesus has as a model for us to follow is the fact that He did not sit in
the high heavens bellowing instructions to us on earth, but took the form of man to
experience the same emotions and frailties we do, and was ultimately victorious. Hence,
we current and aspiring public servants have a lot to learn from Jesus’ model of Servant
Leadership in ensuring the trappings of office do not alienate us from the pains felt by
those being led.
It is important to note however that this is different from the vain populism practiced by
some unscrupulous politicians and demagogic public servants, who have mastered the
14
Hebrews Chapter 4 verse 14, Kings James Bible
12. Page 12 of 13
art of showmanship in feigning an affinity with the masses, but whose stewardship of
the public trust is largely used to further their personal, selfish interests.
Conclusion – Leadership is Not Titles
I will like to conclude this presentation by reiterating some points I have previously
made. These points bear re-stating at every opportunity. The first is that true servant-
leaders owe a duty to the successor-generation to demystify leadership, defining it less
as a task reserved for a select group of special individuals but as something everyone of
us is called to accomplish in various ways and in diverse sectors of life. We must move
away from a culture that sees the leader as the ‘Messiah’ and from all notions that all it
takes to transform society is the miraculous emergence of one extra-ordinary leader.
Leadership is therefore not a title or a position. It is influence rooted in a core of
convictions and beliefs committed to advancing the common good. Positions, titles and
offices merely serve as symbols of leadership. Merely occupying a position and having a
title does not make one a leader in the truest sense of the term. An office or a position
does not confer moral authority so much as it presumes it. Moral authority is a personal
attribute one takes into public office and leaves with at the end of one’s tenure. The
timeless leaders that we continue to remember with fondness either never occupied an
office or did so for a short period of time – Martin Luther King, Mahatma Ghandi,
Obafemi Awolowo remain such iconic figures. These leaders derived their accolades in
spite of their public office, rather than because of it. They derived their relevance and
significance from their personal attributes of character, competence, courage, intellect
and charisma. Yet, many of our public figures – ex-Governors, ex-Ministers, ex-Senators,
e.t.c. – very quickly fade into obscurity and have nothing constructive to contribute to
national life upon leaving office because they were mere ‘title-holders’ with no tangible
legacy beyond the accomplishments of personal gain while in office.
If we accept that leadership is influence through example and not title or office, then we
simply cannot afford to reduce leadership to holding political office. In spite of the
‘Naija-pessimism’ out there, I regularly run into many young people that are leading
effectively and exerting positive influence in various sectors of society. Many of them
are my mentees. These game-changers and rising stars in our country deserve our
accolades because they did not wait idly to be called. They experienced great tutelage,
honed their competence, built their character on a moral foundation, looked for
opportunities in cross-generational contexts and took the efforts of their predecessors
to higher levels. In short, they hearkened to the immortal words of Frantz Fanon that
every generation must discover its mission or betray it. In order not to betray our
mission, every generation must expand the frontiers of achievement, enriching the store
13. Page 13 of 13
of wisdom by which society and its leadership constantly reinvents itself. This is the
essence of the idea of a truly progressive society.
So, like I seize every opportunity to tell my young friends, please don’t try to impress me
by telling me you want to be like me and attain the heights that God’s grace has helped
me attain. You’ve got to do better than that. Make your own mistakes. Benefit from the
energy and fiery idealism of youth, but learn from the errors of the past generations so
as not to repeat it.
Whoever you are, wherever you are – lawyer, commercial bus driver, auto mechanic,
hairdresser, student, doctor, journalist – whatever your profession or vocation and
current station in life, I challenge you today to step out of your own comfort zone to
realise your leadership potential.
Are you ready to lead?
Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for listening.
J. ’Kayode FAYEMI, PhD., CON
Lagos, Nigeria
Wednesday, November 4, 2015