By EricJames Ochigbo

Some stakeholders have called for investments in transformational leadership to ensure speedy development in the country.

The stakeholders made the call on Friday in Abuja at a symposium organised by National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) to mark the sixth anniversary of Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman as Director-General.

The News Agency of Nigeria NAN reports that the symposium had as its theme: “Reflecting on the Six Years of Impact: A Symposium in Honour of Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, DG of NILDS.”

In his keynote address, Founder of GOTNI Leadership Centre, Mr Linus Okorie, emphasised the need for transformational leadership in the country.

According to Okorie, transformational leadership is a concept that places premium on people, inspired by a compelling vision, strengthened by upholding sound principles that changes both the leaders and followers, leading to an encompassing outcome.

He described that Nigeria as a nation with abundant resources, vibrant population and an enviable geo-strategic position in Africa.

Okorie said that for national transformation to happen, leadership must go beyond positional authority to purpose-driven impact.

He said that a leadership that prioritised the common good was needed in the public and private sectors across the country.

“Let every leader here today rise beyond convenience into conviction. Let our institutions evolve from compliance-based to values-driven. Let governance become less about power and more about purpose.

“In the end, nations do not change because of the abundance of resources or the eloquence of policies; they change because of the intentionality, integrity and imagination of those who dare to lead differently.

“Sulaiman embodies these qualities. His work at NILDS reminds us that institutions can work, that excellence is possible and that leadership still matters. May his legacy inspire many others across the country,” he said.

The Country Representative, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), Mr Adebowale Olorunmola, stressed the need for a deep reflection on the decades of leadership crisis in the country.

Olorunmola said that the conversation should not stop until Nigeria got the right leader in every position across the country.

He said that though Nigeria had transformational leaders, the country was still far behind its peers in terms of development.

“We need to invest in building our leaders that are there now, but we must also invest in future leaders, the people, the young people that are coming; that is the problem that we need to deal with,” he said.

Also speaking, President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, said that the National Assembly takes pride in the performance of NILDS, led by Sulaiman.

Represented by a member of the Governing Council of NILDS, Sen. Victor Umeh, Akpabio lauded the leadership qualities of the director-general, describing him as dogged and resilient.

“This institute, he has turned it around so much that anytime you drive into the premises, you know that you are walking into an ambience of a citadel of learning, where people’s minds are developed.

“For us in the legislature, this place is a place where the skills of lawmakers are honed. When you come here, you will understand basic symbols of lawmaking.

“And once you follow the guides and the lectures they give you, you turn out to be a good lawmaker; the purpose of setting up this institute is very well realised under his leadership,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr Samson Itodo, the Executive Director of Yiaga-Africa, a civil society organisation (CSO) tasked the director-general on intellectual solution to indiscriminate defection by political party members.

Itodo said that though the Supreme Court had ruled that votes belonged to the party, those defecting from one party to another were not leaving the office they occupied.

He said that the institute needed to do more to ensure women inclusion in politics, leadership and all other sectors.

The executive director also urged Sulaiman to push for electoral reforms and the passage of a new Electoral Act before the end of the year.

Responding, Sulaiman appreciated the past and present leadership of the National Assembly for his appointment and the time so far spent in office as director-general.

He said that despite attempts to cripple the institute in the last two years by some individuals, the leadership of the assembly had sustained the institute.

Sulaiman urged ed the leadership of the national assembly to get rid of those undermining the institute, for the good of the country.

“The institute has a potential to survive. We have the potential to redirect this country. We have potential to mentor the younger ones. The only thing we need is the willingness of our people to give us maximum support,” he said.

The high point of the symposium was the inauguration of NILDS Journal on Law Review and the cutting of a cake in honour of the director-general.

Notable achievements recorded in the last six years include: establishment of Democracy Radio (104.9) to attain greater grassroots reach in sensitising Nigerians on the principles of democracy.

Others are the establishment of Legislative Centre for Security Analysis to offer increased support for existing efforts to address insecurity and movement of the institute to its permanent site, among others. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Remi Koleoso/’Wale Sadeeq