Professor Chinedu Nebo, the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University of the Niger in Umunya, Anambra State, has called on leaders across all strata of society to purge themselves of wrongdoings to ignite the desire for change among the governed.
He says, “Transformational leaders don’t shy away from the truth, no matter how painful it is. They are not myopic. They do what is right, even when unpopular or costly.”
This was the message of Professor Nebo, the former Minister of Power, delivered at the 5th edition of the Distinguished Personality Lecture in honour of Emeritus Professor Steven Timipia Odi-Owei, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Anchor University, Lagos, on his 80th birthday.
In his paper titled “Transformational and Impactful Leadership in a Failing World”, the guest lecturer said it is paradoxical that despite unprecedented technological advances, the planet groans under the weight of human neglect as the moral compass seems to spin aimlessly in many areas of leadership.
Prof. Nebo painted a gloomy picture of the world that is failing in many dimensions of human endeavours.
He said, “Our world is failing in several dimensions. Economies collapse under the strain of inequality, corruption, selfish politics, and sheer ineptitude.
“Democracies struggle under the weight of disinformation and distrust. What the world needs now is not more control, domination, or shallow charisma. It needs leaders who are willing to be transformed themselves and who, through that transformation, ignite change in others.
“In pain and agony. We lament over Nigeria and bemoan what our own leaders are doing to us by design and default. But lamentation alone cannot save or cure Nigeria; it is now time for us to take our own salvation into our own hands by becoming instruments for change and transformation in our own little corners, hoping that the cumulative effect will lead to our national emancipation and transformation. Nigeria is too young to die, and we, her children, must not let her die.
He urged the citizens to engage in strategic thinking and planning, saying to continue to wait for the government to salvage the country would be an exercise in futility as the country is under siege by powerful forces that have more or less enslaved the citizens.
He added, “To expect the same forces that are holding us hostage to liberate us would only amount to suicidal wishful thinking.”
According to him, the world no longer needs more spectators but catalysts, leaders, healers, builders and torchbearers.
The celebrant, Emeritus Professor Steven Timipia Odi-Owei, lauded the management of the university for the honour on his 80th birthday.
He commended Prof. Nebo, the guest lecturer, for the concise delivery of the distinguished personality lecture and called on leaders in all spheres of human endeavours to be just by putting the people first.
Earlier, Professor Samuel Bandele congratulated the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council on his 80th birthday, saying the 5th distinguised personality lecture in his honour was beyond mere ceremony but an event designed by the management to impact society through knowledge dissemination and academic interaction.
He expressed the conviction that the lecture would be more indelible in the hearts of the people.
“The lecture is attended by all our Senate members, staff, and at least 400 students and other members of the public also joined. I want to believe that the messages of today will be even more indelible in the hearts of people because of the imperatives of transformational and impactful leadership. I think the lecture will go a long way to help all our staff, help me and members of the Senate too.
“This type of lecture has the fundamental primary purpose of establishing that universities are to disseminate knowledge, we are to seize every opportunity to make sure that we educate society, not merely to look at what is happening, but to look beyond in terms of learning, removing ignorance, and then increasing knowledge.
Speaking on what he would like to be remembered for, Prof. Bandele, who gave glory to Almighty God, said, “I want to be remembered for maybe the summary of what we had today. The impact that I’ve been able to give to Anchor University. Not just in the academic aspect alone, but also in the spiritual aspect as a faith-based university. I want to be remembered for all that I’ve done, that God has used me and my team to transform the landscape of this place and make it have spiritual integrity.
“I want to be remembered as a vice-chancellor who stood on a bicycle of spiritual integrity to transform an environment that is called a faith-based university,” he submitted.
