Anyim,Waziri Decry Leadership Failure, Institute Crafts Learning For Displaced Children

A former chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs Farida Waziri and former Senate president, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, among other leaders, have condemned the crisis of leadership and corruption fuelling the current violence in the country.

This comes as the Leadership Institute of Nigeria designs alternatives to educating children displaced by conflict, particularly in Benue State. It aimed to equip the young learners with essential skills for a better future.

The leaders spoke in Abuja yesterday during the 2025 Leadership Public Lecture, Excellence Awards, and Appeal Fund for the Educational Rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Children in Benue State.

The event was organised by the Leadership Institute Nigeria in collaboration with the African Leadership Institute USA under the theme, “Africa at the Crossroads: Redefining Leadership for Global Relevance.”

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Senator Anyim, reflected on his long-standing engagement with Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, the president of the Leadership Institute Nigeria, and commended his perseverance in keeping leadership discussions in Africa at the forefront.

He lamented the global leadership crisis across the country, noting its impact on democracy, governance, and societal well-being.

“You can agree with me that Hagher has escalated this discussion from the front burner to a boiling point. I have gathered leaders with impactful experiences from diverse backgrounds to discuss various perspectives on leadership in Africa, the issues arising from them, the milestones achieved, and the challenges ahead.

“I am minded to say that the question of leadership is no longer an African topic, but has become a global catastrophe. There is no gainsaying that the world today is in crisis.

“I do not mean just the crisis of war, hunger, and deprivation. I also mean the crisis of confidence in leadership. This crisis of confidence in leadership worldwide has raised questions about the ability of democracy to deliver effective governance and the effectiveness of the rule of law in ensuring justice.

“Also on that track are the quality of humanity, the sovereignty of nations, and indeed the concept of a free society for all. It is needless to emphasise that leadership crisis is at the root of war, hunger, insecurity, and deprivation across the globe. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the topic of this year’s lecture is Africa and the possible redefining of global deliverance,” he said.

Also speaking, Mrs Waziri, chairperson of the occasion, lamented the persistent crises in Nigeria, urging a focus on their root causes.

According to her, widespread corruption is the core problem behind kidnappings, killings, and societal decay.

She recounted her time as a police commissioner, noting how some criminals rationalise theft by exploiting systemic corruption, bribing officials at every level, and using safe havens abroad, which allows them to evade justice and return to positions of power.

Waziri called for collective action, urging society to support initiatives that provide aid to victims and address these issues at their source, stressing that Nigeria’s immense human and material resources are being undermined by greed and corruption.

“Why will anyone come into your church, kill your people, and walk away while you do nothing? What is intelligence? What do these people want? Let us try solutions. The root cause of these problems is people. Sorry, that’s not difficult.

“But for me, let me tell you what I think is corruption. From my experience, from a young woman to middle age and now older, I know what I am talking about. The country is too corrupt.

“Corruption is the root cause of it. Why would you kidnap a child and release her? Why would you go and kill people and demand ransom? Do you want to prove yourself? You don’t want to.”

On his part, Prof. Hagher, President of the Leadership Institute Nigeria, emphasised the urgent need to prioritise the education and development of Nigeria’s children, warning that neglecting them risks creating a generation of trauma, violence, and despair.

He emphasised that education is crucial for cultivating empathy, tolerance, and civic responsibility. He lamented the country’s high number of out-of-school children and those suffering in IDP camps, particularly in Benue, where hundreds of thousands face malnutrition and insecurity.

Hagher criticised the current leadership for complacency and called on Nigerian leaders, both in government and the private sector, to take responsibility for shaping a purposeful future.

He also announced the Institute’s plan to provide alternative, accelerated education for displaced children using innovative methods such as mobile schools and technology-enabled learning, with Benue serving as a pilot template to reach vulnerable children nationwide.

“This country seeks to divide us along ethnic and religious lines, along class, and particularly worrisome for people in the Leadership Institute and me is the way in which the children of Nigeria are not being prepared to be the next great generation.

“Our generation was prepared to be the post-colonial generation to make Nigeria work, but now we are older, and we look around and see what we have done. The new generation of people in government must come together with those in the private sector to emphasise the importance of children and education.

“We are the country with the most significant number of out-of-school children. Now take that and multiply it by the consequential abandonment of our children in IDP camps who are suffering from trauma, having watched their parents killed, their siblings butchered, and their mothers raped.

“These children have no desire to go to school. All they want is revenge, and they ask, ‘What is the purpose of life?’ We are creating a new generation of children who have no purpose in life. The organisation has even more horrifying statistics on what is happening in Benue, where right now, close to 350,000 children in IDP camps are suffering from malnutrition and insecurity.

“Most children now know how to dodge bullets, and when they hear the screams of arsonists, murderers, and people who have chosen to take up arms against harmless citizens attacking at night while you sleep, these children know how to run, escape, and survive rather than read, write, or do multiplication tables. This is a tragedy waiting to happen,” he added.

“We are prepared to give them alternative education. We are willing to partner with the government and people across the country,” he added.

The event also featured a keynote lecture by Justice Cheryl Grant, a renowned U.S. jurist and advocate for global leadership. It included awards of excellence to distinguished personalities, along with a panel session.