The Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, has attributed the prevailing poverty, political instability, insurgence and collapse of government institutions to leadership failure.
Omo-Agege made the observation on Saturday at the 5th Annual Leadership Lecture/Graduation Ceremony of the Value Rebirth-Centre-LSD Leadership School, Effurun/Warri in Delta, on Sunday, August 14.
The senator, who was represented by Mr Mathew Omonade, said he believed in unity. Therefore, he urged people to enthrone sound ethical leadership rooted in respect; honesty, service, equity, justice and community service.
Omo-Agege, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship flagbearer in Delta, noted that over the years; poor leadership had frustrated the achievement of the country’s enormous economic and political potentials.
“But all is not lost because State and nation-building all over the world have been and remain a permanent work in progress.
“As we move towards leadership selection in 2023; the leaders we need now should posses knowledge, sound judgment and commitment to specific causes and ideals.”
The senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District said that the country needed leaders with good moral conduct; as well as ethical responsibility to attend to demands, needs and problems of Nigerians.
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Omo-Agege, however, noted that genuine leadership also needed honest, courageous and credible followership; less vulnerable to manipulation, adding that followership was an indispensable aspect of leadership.
He said the stability and progress of the country required the deployment of deliberate commitment by citizens and those entrusted with leadership to advance the national agenda, regardless of challenges.
Also, Mr Monday Osasah, Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (CENTRE LSD), said the leadership school was a flagship programme of the Leadership Institute, adding that it started in 2009.
He said the idea was borne out of the realisation that leadership was a major challenge, especially in Africa.
Osasah said the Centre LSD Leadership School was designed for people who wanted to become leaders; notably to get equipped with leadership skills for the transformation of organisation and society.
“Aside the Leadership School in Abuja, the Centre is running similar school in Warri, Benin-City, Port Harcourt, Abakaliki and Jos in Plateau State.
“This Effurun/Warri Delta annex of the school is run in collaboration with Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative (VREI),” he said.
