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SHOPPING
FOR NEW AFRICAN LEADERS
By Nutayi
Olusegun Micheal
The translation
of our thoughts into deeds is a precondition for change. Obviously,
this is the view of a woman whose innovation recently cut across
a cross section of selected youths in Lagos.
LEAP Africa
(Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism),
a non-governmental organization based in Lagos recently organized
a youth Leadership training to buttress this notion. The training
is the second to be organized by LEAP Africa with about 40 youths
drawn from around Lagos metropolis in attendance. At the three-day
training on the "Effective Leadership" the second set of youths
were admitted into the LEAP Africa Institute for two-year Leadership
training. These youths are currently making changes in their various
communities, the training is part of an enhancement programme to
equip them with knowledge, skills and support required to effectively
make the changes.
The training
was actually meant to be an homepage for courageous leaders and
this aim was neither defeated. These views were clearly spelled
out during the "social responsibilities" segment of the training.
As a participant I have to admit my social responsibilities flaws
especially when the questions start attacking from all sides; Have
you giving or been bribed before, throw a pure water waste packet
out of the bus instead of requesting for a waste bin, and the likes.
I see this as my daily non-chalant attitude towards the society,
the lesson driven from this attitude shaping exercise; make me see
leadership as a way of life.
The training
examined issues on what an effective Leadership means and what stereotypes
do we have as a Nigerian? Some perspectives were given to what effective
leadership is and these are "A good leader is he/she who leads the
band and face the music", A good leader says lets go and why a Boss
says go", leadership entails selfless sacrifice, honesty, inspirations,
creativity, motivations, effectiveness, accountability, ability
to claim responsibilities for your actions and inactions. Some participants
say leadership is an art and not a position, but it was unanimously
agreed that leaders are raised and not born. The training also focused
on who is a role model and a leader. It is a most for every aspiring
leader to have these attributes mentioned; an insight on Dr Martin
Luther King (Jr.) was cited to buttress this view.
The training
was more of an interactive session. It is amazing seeing Mrs Ndidi
Okonkwo Nwuneli the founder of LEAP Africa showing an exemplary
of Leadership in her rapport with staff of LEAP Africa and the participants
by her direct involvement in all the activities while the training
lasted. Speaking at the training, Mrs Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli emphasized
the objectives and missions of LEAP Africa which are to inspire,
empower and equip a new cadre of leaders in Africa. She believes
that between January 2004 and December 2009, LEAP Africa will have
cultivate her ideas into at least 1,200 entrepreneurs that will
manage small and medium sized enterprises, while about 1,500 youth
leaders will have been trained.
Ngozi Obi, Manager
Youth Leadership Programme and other members of her staff also shared
her views. Some of the activities at the training include adoption
of a class name "Illuminate" and a class song, which draws the spirit
of each participant higher and to foster learning of what the meaning
of effective leadership. Every participant were made to have an
insightful and thoughtful time and this further boasted individual
perception about a topic. To be candid the experience was wonderful
and individual thinking ability was broadened in the same vein.
Today in my
reflection on the activities of LEAP Africa, I foresee an African
woman who believes in the modern saying youths are the leaders of
today, contrary to the old saying "youth are the leaders of tomorrow"…
this is the dream of a LEAP Africa, an innovation that cut across
and reaching out to the youths to take their pride of place upon
the sands of time.
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