Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has charged Nigerian leaders at all levels to be contented, accountable and display integrity and selflessness in service in the interest of the wellbeing of the led.
Sule gave the admonition in a lecture he delivered on Thursday at the 13th anniversary and awards ceremony of Verbatim Magazine held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
The lecture was titled, “Changing Times and Challenge of Leadership in Nigeria: Candid Views of an Uncommon Patriot.”
The governor said the quality of leadership in Nigeria had continued to drop in spite of the legacies left by the forefathers as captured by Chinua Achebe in his book “The trouble with Nigeria.”
According to Sule, leadership is all about problem solving, providing solutions and benefits to the led.
“It is about understanding your environment, understanding the solution that the people need, it is being accountable, transparent, having integrity and a character that aligns with the wishes of the people,” he said.
The governor added that a good leader should be fair and provide inclusiveness, distribute projects and appointments evenly.
“He must be courageous, have contentment, accept constructive criticism, manage diversities with the ability to learn from mistakes while accepting the assets and liabilities of his office,” he said.
Sule said he entered politics to contribute to the development of Nasarawa State and listed his numerous contributions to the growth of the state.
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion and registrar of the National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Dantani Wushishi, said Verbatim Magazine had come a long way in journalism.
He commended its editorial style and policies, adding that the manner and way they report NECO activities endeared it to the council.
Wushishi said a leader should be focused with determination to solving peoples’ problems.
“Leadership is all about solving problems. It is all about understanding the people you are leading and their needs. All that Nigerian leaders need to do is to be more transparent and focused on identifying the needs of Nigerians in order to address them,” he said.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, in his goodwill message, commended the editorial board of Verbatim for the event and Governor Sule for delivering an insightful and thought-provoking lecture.
Musa said effective leadership demands synergy among all stakeholders. He said it should also be anchored on integrity, honesty, transparency and accountability, adding that leadership should be seen as a call to serve.
In his welcome address, the editor-in-chief of Verbatim Magazine, Mr Tobs Agbaegbu, appreciated the dignitaries for honouring the event and those that contributed to its success, especially the governor of Nasarawa State.
He said the magazine started 13 years ago to provide insightful commentaries, in-depth analysis, informative and educative news stories to the people of Nigeria.
He said the event was to commemorate a milestone in the magazine’s journey in journalism and as a product of the defunct Newswatch Magazine.
According to him, the magazine does not belief in fake news, hence ventured into investigative journalism, adding that they would remain committed to providing high quality journalism that would continue to inspire Nigerians.
The highlight of the occasion was the cutting of the anniversary cake and presentation of 2024 Verbatim Distinguished Patriot Award to distinguished Nigerians including the governor of Nasarawa State who was also the guest lecturer at the occasion.
The award recipients also included Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State and Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Prof. Sa’adatu Liman.
Others were Gen. Musa and Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the director-general, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
