Junior Chamber To Promote Value-driven Leadership

As Nigeria celebrated its 65th Independence anniversary, Junior Chamber International (JCI), Aso chapter, has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing value-driven leadership and inspiring young people to lead transformation in a rapidly changing world.

At a leadership programme in Abuja themed “Leading the Shift: Unleashing Value-centered Leadership in a Changing World,” the participants reflected on the nation’s journey since Independence and explored how innovative leadership and ethical values can shape a better future for Nigeria.

The 25th president, JCI Aso, Ambassador Felix Sunday Akinyemi, said the theme was chosen to address a critical gap in Nigeria’s leadership culture.

He said, “This theme was deliberately chosen. If you look at Nigeria critically, you will see that something is missing in our society. The youth need to imbibe trust and integrity in their dealings, which are critical qualities every leader must have. Just like the keynote speaker said, our values are being elevated and for this country to become great, we need to bring them back.”

Akinyemi said JCI focused on ensuring value-centered leadership translated from rhetoric into measurable impact.

In his keynote address, Pastor Sam Oye, underscored the centrality of values in national transformation, drawing parallels with Singapore’s rise under Lee Kuan Yew.

“Singapore was once in a mess, yet it turned itself around through strict principles and zero tolerance for corruption. Lee Kuan Yew once came to Nigeria to learn from us, only to discover that we had no sustainable model to offer. Today, our natural resources are still intact, but what has been on a steady decline since Independence is our values,” Oye said.