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… Trains 2699 Nigerians in Leadership Skills in 13 years
By Kelechi Nwaucha
The Centre LSD/Kebetkache Leadership School on Saturday graduated the 2024 set of its Leadership class in Port Harcourt, bringing to 2,699, the number of graduates so far trained by the institution at its over seven centres across the country.
The Port Harcourt centre of the school, which is run by Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, in partnership with the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), and with support from the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, last Saturday graduated its 6th Set, while inaugurating the 7th Class.
In an address at the ceremony, Executive Director of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, Dr Emem Okon, said “The Centre LSD/Kebetkache Leadership school is set up to train leaders by unravelling the complexity of leadership and to offer a framework to help people become great leaders.
“The school is meant for those who are motivated to become leaders and want the tools to become dynamic, strategic and visionary leaders that will transform organizations and communities,” she said.
Recalling the early days of the Port Harcourt centre, Dr Okon said “It all seem as if it started yesterday but we are here graduating sixth set of students and inaugurating the 7th Set of students into the school. The journey of a thousand steps begins with just one step, and we have confidently taken many steps these past 6 years.”
She encouraged the graduating students to “remain part of the school” and its alumni group, while expressing plans to expand the school’s curriculum to include environmental studies.
“I want to use this opportunity to mention that, because of the peculiar nature of the Niger Delta and the environmental challenges that we face, that we should introduce courses on environmental issues. It’s our collective responsibility to create change, not just for the school, but for Rivers State and the Niger Delta.
“The Leadership School has come to stay in Port Harcourt, and this becomes part of the hope that our society is changing for the better.
“I want to charge the Alumni Association to be more active and adopt steps to implement what is learnt during the classes in the larger society through programming and interventions. Some of the people are already doing this, but let’s amplify and add more energy to it that the society feels our leadership pulse,” she said.
Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Monday Osasah, represented by Dr Emenike Umesi, Director of Leadership, said the graduation ceremony is not merely a celebration of academic achievement, but “a powerful affirmation of Centre LSD’s unwavering commitment to developing leaders who catalyze positive, transformative change across Nigeria and beyond.”
He said this year’s theme, ‘Effective Leaders of Cross-Cultural Challenges,’ “resonates deeply with our collective mission, imparting the necessity of adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and unity in an increasingly interconnected world.
“As leaders, ranging divides and working across cultural lines has never been more essential than it is today. As a distinguished national NGO and think tank, Centre LSD is dedicated to advancing strategic leadership of sustainable development across Africa,” he said.
While commending the faculty and graduating class for their resilience, hard work, and commitment, Osasah informed the graduates that they “are now part of a powerful legacy, joining the ranks of over 2,300 clean judges who have come through this institution.
“As it is today, the center has graduated 2,601. Your journey as strategic leaders begins anew today. We are confident that you will carry forward the values of intellect to drive meaningful change in your community, workplace, and community.”
Presenting the Annual Leadership Lecture 2024, with the theme ‘Effective Leadership and Cross-Cultural Challenges,’ founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Dr Otive Igbuzor, blamed Nigeria’s underdevelopment crisis on the failure of the leadership class in the country.
He argued that “Leadership is very important for the development of organizations and nations. In fact, studies show that it is not managerial equivalent, but leadership that determines the success of organizations and nations. And that everything rises and falls on leadership. We also know that leaders can be trained.
“Unfortunately, across Africa, particularly in Nigeria, there are no centers where leaders are trained. That’s why we initiated the leadership school.
“And for leaders to be effective, they must be inclusive, they must be visionary, they must serve with integrity, they must serve with vision, but above that, they must be empathetic and take into consideration cultural differences.
“So in a country like Nigeria, that has diverse cultures and different tribes, leaders must not focus on only their tribes. Leaders must forge unity and cooperation among the diverse tribes within the country. It’s only through that way that we can have a development.”
Dr. Igbuzor noted that globally, “The only way, or rather, the best way to get political leadership is through elections. Unfortunately, our elections in Nigeria are compromised. That is why we need to clean up the electoral system so that we can get truly effective leaders in Nigeria.”
Chief Constance Meju, chairperson of the occasion and board member of Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, while praising the faculty and students of the leadership school for their commitment and dedication, described the founder, Dr Igbuzor, as “a man with a mission, in a country crowded by darkness.”
She said that “it is very obvious now that what is lacking in Nigeria is leadership,” adding that the situation is “kind of getting worse.”
While saluting the vision and courage of the founding executive director of Centre LSD, and of Kebetkache and Dr Okon, for keying into the vision of the leadership school, Chief Meju urged the graduates to be change agents for a better nation.
“So as you are graduating today, it’s not to tell people that after all I went to leadership. Show leadership in your family, in your community, in your society. Wherever you are, show leadership. Whenever there is need, speak up or teach,” she said.
In a valedictory speech, Class Governor (2024 Set), Precious Anga, said “Today marks a moment of pride and celebration for each one of us. We are not merely concluding a course, but embarking on a journey that has been enriched with the wisdom, guidance, and shared purpose we found here at Kebetkache/Centre LSD Leadeshlp School.”
He thanked the faculty of the Leadership school for being “both mentors and role models,” adding that they “challenged us, inspired us and have taught us what it means to lead with integrity, resilience and compassion. The knowledge and experiences you shared with us are values we will carry forvward, using them to serve our communities for a lifetime.
“We are equally grateful to Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, for giving us the platform. Your dedication to fostering leaders who will make a positive impact in communities has been evident in every aspect of this school. Thank you for creating this opportunity, for investing in our growth, and for believing in the power of education as a force for change,” the class valedictorian said.
Another member of the Class 2024, Banigo Bernice Nelson, whose appreciation led her to present a momento to Dr Emem Okon, said the executive director of Kebetkache “has inspired me as a great leader. She has taught us to be the great women that we are and also to speak out for ourselves and come out of our shell.
“She inspired me to be a CEO today by her words of encouragement, by leadership class, and her behavioral pattern. So, I decided to give her a gift, something remarkable that when she looks at it, a clock, she can always say, yes, this is coming from one of our students, who is also a leader today,” she said.
The Leadership school, which admits and trains students free of charge, runs for a period of one year and hold lectures once a month, precisely every first Saturday of the month. Admission for the 7th set, according to Dr Okon, continues till the end of November.
