RE: 2023: Nigeria In Need Of Transformational Leaders And Genuine change -By Richard Odusanya

An overview of some characteristics of Transformational leaders -Adesanya-Davies

An article titled, “2023: Nigeria In Need Of Transformational Leaders And Genuine change -By Richard Odusanya” pubished by Opinion on March 18, 2022 corroborates another sad peice I recently read titled, “NIGERIA IS A CRIME SCENE”:

NIGERIA IS A CRIME SCENE
When President Buhari leaves power come 2023, a lot will be unearthed that will shock Nigerians. This stolen crude alone declared by auditor general is a whooping sum of $13billiion ( more than Dangote total Networth) missing under a President who doubles as the minister of petroleum.
The Question is… who stole the funds under his watch?

Guess you already know.
This money can build over 1000 hospitals of the same standard Buhari goes for checkups in UK. It can build at least 2mega refineries from scratch to finish at $2billion each. It can solve the current ASUU agitation for ever. It can develop at least two states in Nigeria to half the level of Dubai. Some of us just gulped it between 2019 and 2021.
Mind you, this is not the re-looted recovered loots, neither is it the money stolen from school feeding scam, padded budget or looted loans from China. Nigeria is a crime scene and it would take decades to get it right and undo all that’s been perpetuated by our leaders.
I weep for Nigeria.”

This awakes us rightly into the introduction of Richard Odusanya ingenious piece, “The leadership and security crisis seizing Nigeria these days are numerous; trust deficits, lack of accountability and good governance, including kidnappings for ransom. Some years ago, the spotlight was on violent conflict between farmers and herders. Before that, it was Boko Haram. Even earlier, it was the tensions in the Niger Delta, and so on.

However now, “There is an urgent need for a total reorientation on the concept of LEADERSHIP, especially in the civil governance and it’s now! The time is ripe for a time tested leadership; this is the time for a Transformational Leader to step forward. A leadership with Courage, Capacity and Competence.

Transformational leadership is a leadership style that can inspire positive changes in those who follow; transformational leaders are generally energetic, enthusiastic, and passionate. Not only are these leaders concerned and involved in the process; they are also focused on helping every member of the team succeed as well, and by extension the larger society.

With transformational leaders, I am setting the bar still higher. I have in mind leaders who play a decisive role in introducing systemic change – fundamental change and innovative method of doing things within the technological, political or economic system – the examples of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs readily comes to mind. Bill Gates revolutionized the world, so also Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs is known for being one of the most iconic transformational leaders in the world.

At a critical time like this, Nigeria needs more than ordinary managers of national affairs. Good governance inheres in good leadership. Without transformational leadership, Nigeria may continue to lag while other societies continue to speed to success and in some cases using Nigeria’s resources.

The leadership and security crisis seizing Nigeria these days are numerous; trust deficits, lack of accountability and good governance, including kidnappings for ransom. Some years ago, the spotlight was on violent conflict between farmers and herders. Before that, it was Boko Haram. Even earlier, it was the tensions in the Niger Delta, and so on.

As Nigeria lurches from one violent conflict to another, the country’s leaders and its international supporters become easily – and perhaps understandably – fixated on the latest manifestation of insecurity. The larger problem, however, is that none of this will ever change unless the focus turns more firmly and consistently to the thread that runs through all of that upheaval: the failures of governance.

Instructively, Businessman and Chairman Heirs Holdings, Mr Tony Elumelu, yesterday, 17th March, bemoaned the fact that Nigeria was losing over 95 per cent of its oil production to thieves. He further elaborated on the issue of poor leadership and subsequently, admonished Nigerians to wake up and hold the leadership class accountable. This is coming from a member of the organized private sector and it is timely.

Hopefully, many more of our captains of industries, accomplished and critical stakeholders, particularly the leaders of faith will ultimately lend their voices. “Evil prevails when good people keep silent.” Could fear be the reason why they are silent? Most also don’t speak out because they want to be in the system some day, they don’t want a situation where past comment will hunt them.

We need to at this point consider an overview of some characteristics of Transformational leaders which are hereby listed:

1. Openness to New Thinking

Transformational leaders are constantly open to innovation wherever it may arise. They constantly look for opportunities to do things differently and are always open to new ideas, no matter where those ideas may present themselves.

Henry Ford famously developed the concept of his car assembly line while visiting a meat-packing plant. Ford’s open mindset allowed him to see the stepwise disassembly of animal carcasses and envisioned the process in reverse, changing construction procedures so each worker was responsible for assembling a single part. Within six years, his company’s output increased from 32,000 to 735,000 cars per year.

2. Talent for Broadening Minds

Transformational leadership often involves shifting people’s views on how things should work. To do so, it’s necessary to understand the rationale behind people’s current mindsets and how to shift their thinking.

The transformational leader needs to understand where people are coming from and convince them to step outside of their comfort zone. This requires two separate skills: empathy and the ability to inspire confidence.

3. Commitment to Active Listening

It’s not enough for transformational leaders to request — or even inspire — ideas. They also need to make their colleagues and team members feel bold enough to share those ideas.

Transformational leaders hear ideas with an open mind and respond without judgment or finality. They commit to employing active listening techniques so that their team members feel seen, understood and respected. With these methods in place, they inspire others to share their thoughts without self-censoring.

4. Tolerance for Intelligent Risks

No transformation happens without some risk of failure. A transformational leader needs to be willing to consider those risks and what they might mean for the future of the organization.

If the benefits of an idea outweigh the risks, the leader must be willing to pursue it further if it seems feasible. The leader also has to recognize when the risk is too great, and a different approach is needed.

5. Willingness to Accept Responsibility

Any innovator who ventures into uncharted territory must be willing to own the results of doing so, good or bad. No leader inspires confidence if they demand that others take the fall when an idea fails. Transformational leaders must assume responsibility for each of their decisions, including green lighting the ideas of others.

6. Trust in Team Members

People need autonomy to develop and shape new ideas. The transformational leader understands this and trusts team members to define their own steps to success.

Take Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix. Hastings grants unlimited vacation time to Netflix employees as long as performance remains high and the team’s well-being doesn’t suffer. Netflix’s unlimited vacation policy began in 2003. Just four years later, the company had developed and launched its industry-disrupting streaming service.

7. Ability to Inspire Participation

For innovation to happen, it needs to be part of a team’s culture. The transformational leader needs to expect creativity from everyone — not just one or two “idea people.” The leader’s job is to model universal creativity and innovation.

There needs to be an established expectation that everyone — including the leader — will think outside the box, recognizing thoughts and ideas, even when they don’t generate paradigm-shifting results. Transformational leaders create transformational teams where everyone is an idea person.

Conclusively, let me confess my state of mind: Whenever, I am confronted with, let us pray for Nigeria. Whenever I hear “let’s pray for our nation Nigeria,” that’s my cue for a moment of silence till the next prayer point.

Our beloved country Nigeria is at a crossroad, we need the mindset of the biblical ‘Nehemiah’ much more than just praying. This is because Nigeria, has become like an hamster on wheels, it looks like it’s running but it is still on one spot, repeating the circles.

May we all jointly song: The national Anthem

ARISE ‘O COMPATRIOTS

Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria’s call obey
To serve our fatherland
With love and strength and faith
The labour of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity.
Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause
Guide our leader’s right
Help our youth the truth to know
In love and honesty to grow
And living just and true
Great lofty heights attain
To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign.
Audio: National Anthem

And may we again say the National Pledge.

National Pledge
I pledge to Nigeria my Country
To be faithful, loyal and honest
To serve Nigeria with all my strength
To defend her unity
And uphold her honour and glory
So help me God.

Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, Presidential Candidate of Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) in the 2019 election; a frontline presidential aspirant, the only Amazon in the 2023 Presidential race on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Richard Odusanya is a Social Reform Crusader and the convener of AFRICA COVENANT RESCUE INITIATIVE ACRI.

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