TheCable

Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto, says Nigeria needs good leadership for sustainable development.

He said this on Wednesday at the maiden edition of the Lateef Adegbite memorial series on leadership.

Adegbite, who died in 2012, was the former attorney-general of the western region.

The event, which was organised by his family and close friends, took place at the Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos

The Sultan said good leaders are what Nigeria needs to make meaningful development.

“Bad leadership is Nigeria’s biggest problem. If a leader doesn’t have leadership qualities, the society he is leading will be at a loss,” he said.

“If Almighty Allah wants to bless the people, he gives them good leaders and Lateef Adegbite is an epitome of a good leader, both in the public and private sector.”

Quoting Usman Dan Fodio, founder of the Sokoto caliphate, the Sultan urged Nigerians to be tolerant.

“A peaceful election is expected in the 2023 elections, and this can be achieved through love,” he added.

Speaking at the event, Ajoritsedere Awosika, chairman of Access Bank, said leaders should be willing to endure pain and sacrifice just like Adegbite did.

She commended the Adegbite family for organising the event, as well as those that contributed to publishing the book: ‘Leadership Issues in Africa’, in honour of the late Adegbite.

On her part, Omobola Johnson, senior partner, TLcom Capital LLP, spoke on the importance of technology as an enabler and accelerator of development.

She said as far as Nigeria’s socio-economic and political development are concerned, technology is needed across sectors for inclusive development.

In his remarks, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, co-founder and chairman, The Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, said good governance is a panacea for Nigeria’s transformational development.

“Transformational leaders motivate behaviour by changing their followers’ attitude and behaviours in contrast to transactional leadership, which is based on transactional gain and reward for effort,” he said.

He urged public servants to utilise their skills and follow the example of the late Adegbite.

Tola Adegbite, the daughter of the former attorney-general, said the memorial series was organised to mark the 10th anniversary of his death.

She said the family called together leaders, who exemplified great leadership values they saw in the late Adegbite, to give their advice on how to move the country forward.

She also urged Nigerians to be deliberate about choosing quality leadership in the forthcoming polls as good governance is key.

Other speakers at the event include Asue Ighodalo, founding partner, Banwo & Ighodalo, and chairperson, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), as well as Oyindamola Adeyemi, executive chairperson, Still Earth Holdings.