‘Nigeria Lacks Leaders Prioritising Citizens’ Welfare’

The chief executive officer of JELA Development Initiatives (a non-governmental organisation) said leadership problem persists in Nigeria because most leaders do not listen to their followers.

She said until the political, social, and even community leaders review their style of leadership by listening more to the yearnings of their followers, rather than forcing their opinion on people always, there will not be any significant development in the country.

Angela made this assertion yesterday in Lokoja during the NGO’s Leadership Exchange Programme (LEP) for a set of young people under the age of 30.

“We need leaders to listen to be able to address the problem of the society. You can’t advocate for something you don’t know about.

“Our leaders are not listening to our complains, and so don’t know how to address them.”

The project, the third Cohort in the country supported by the US Department of States, has 30 youths drawn from across the state.

She said the programme would empower the participants, whom she tagged as young leaders, to become audacious servant leaders and community builders.

“The initiative targets youth between the ages of 18 and 25. We will be providing them with essential skills and knowledge to become effective change-makers in their communities.

“The 2 weeks training is one of the aspects of the program which deals with strategic subjects like servant leadership, peace and conflict resolution, community building, and fundraising, with a subsequent three-month workplace exchange, all through to August,” she said.

Angela Omeiza, said the leadership programme is an intensive training combining both theoretical knowledge and practical experience to equip the young trainees with the relevant skills to serve as leaders in their various communities and engender positive changes, noting that Nigeria and other African countries are in critical need of servant leaders and community builders capable of driving the needed transformation on the continent.