Enjoins Nigerian Leaders To Emulate Zik’s Leadership Virtues
The just concluded Leadership SCORECARD ANNUAL LECTURE AND AWARD CEREMONY 2022 at the NAF Conference Centre Abuja on Saturday 10th December, 2022, was a colourful event, well attended by the creme dela creme, from both members of the public and private sectors.
Nigerian leaders have been urged to emulate and embrace the leadership qualities which made late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and other founding fathers of today’s Nigeria stand out.
This idea was echoed by various awardees at the just-concluded Leadership Scorecard Magazine Awards, held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
One of the awardees and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina said the award will be in the public domain to serve as a motivation to other Nigerians to work hard and earn it.
“I am delighted [that] this award will be in the public domain, it will go far and people will see it and some people may be inspired to put in their best and get an award.
“I have followed the leadership scorecard for a long time. I know the person behind it and I can only say he should keep on doing well,” Adesina said.
Also another awardee and the former Governor of Bauchi State Isa Yuguda said the most important thing is that the scorecard magazine is celebrating late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.
“The important thing is celebrating late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. He is somebody that every Nigerian will continue celebrating because of the role he played towards the independence of Nigeria.
“So, I would like to encourage every Nigerian to develop interest in this magazine and book for the fact that it is celebrating this rare human being who was God-given to Nigeria. I believe that, through it, a lot of articles and advice will be carried so that it will cement and strengthen our nation,” he noted.
He called it a “thing of pride” that he is associated with the magazine. He, however, advised young Nigerians to understand how hard the past heroes fought to achieve independence for the country and refrain from actions that will jeopardise the unity of the country.
“It is a challenge to the the younger generation. We can see a lot of youths agitating here and there. If they know what it took for God to create this country and what it took others to achieve the feat of gaining independence, they will refrain from trying to jeopardise its unity.
“So, I will ask the younger ones, especially those who do not know history to learn history, they should learn from what our elders have done to build Nigeria,”he cautioned.
The chairman of the occasion, Prof Udenta O. Udenta highlighted the need to sustain the historical legacies of the Nigeria’s foremost nationalists, who faught tooth and nail to secure the political independence of Nigeria.
While making his presentation, Udenta detailed his experiences with the late leader, fondly know as ‘Zik of Africa’, to buttress his leadership virtues and views on leading.
Alhaji Mukhtar Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the guest speaker and son of Nigeria’s first and only Prime Minister, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, spoke on the need for Nigerians to bury the past, come together to build a new Nigeria of our collective dreams.
Keynote speakers Prof. Sam Amadi and Dr. Mainasara Ibrahim Kogo Umar, shed more light on Azikiwe’s enduring leadership virtues that should be sustained among Nigeria’s ruling percentage if the nation must forge ahead.
The publisher of ‘Leadership Scorecard Magazine’ Humphrey Onyima said the management of the magazine and its board is always on the lookout for leadership qualities which reflect those of the late nationalist.
“When you talk about leadership, it is all encompassing; not just about holding political offices. Even in your little business, the organisation you work in, that little cycle that you are in control of, that is your position of leadership.
“That is why you see that we have different categories of people that we honoured; classroom teachers, civil servants, former governors, governors, former presidents, exceptional social workers, humanitarian icons and many more,” he said.
He pointed out that the award is not limited to political office holders but to everyone who has been exceptional in discharging their duties in their offices.
“We don’t want to limit our award to only governors, former governors or former presidents.
“You see former president Goodluck Jonathan was honored today alongside a school teacher, former civil servants and traders. So we look at all aspects of life and those who distinguished themselves are singled out for appreciation. It is a leadership scorecard award based on our assessment of performance.”
Onyima said the current focus on Azikiwe’s leadership virtues was borne of leadership failure in Nigeria today.
“Those who fall within the class of late Dr. Azikiwe are the people we focused on. We want to highlight the need for truly leading leadership and bring it back to the burner; there is a dearth of great leadership in Nigeria today and we want to highlight what great leadership looks like, so that leaders in all spheres can keep that in mind as they keep leading.”
Onyima said the award, in its third edition, has been kept up by sheer courage and doggeddness. “When I remember my days of little beginning, I am reminded of why I must not fade off.”
