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A strategic leader, technocrat and consultant in Rivers State, Leesi Gabriel Gborogbosi, has attributed the failure of Rivers State to attain her full potential to lack of strategic leadership in governance and failure of leadership to adequately confront increasing “wicked problems” facing the society. These problems, which he said seem incomprehensible and with uncertainty, include the provision of security, clean environment, job creation, economic growth, and development.
Gborogbosi, who is the founder/CFO/CEO of a management consulting firm, Gabriel Domale Consulting, said government at all levels, led by strategic leaders do well because the strategic leaders are able to solve these ‘wicked problems’ by adopting collaboration with the citizenry and also transforming public sector services.
“But how can you quickly identify a strategic leader in governance? A possible answer – it is a leader that delegates effectively – pushes power downward, empowering people at all levels to make decisions. It seems some of our leaders in government in Rivers State have only operational skills but lack strategic leadership.
“A key concern is: are our leaders in government in Rivers State asking the right questions? Are they involved in strategic conversations daily in order to accelerate growth and development of Rivers State?
“Though governance may be a complex process, governance succeeds or fails based on how well leaders at every level of government integrate strategic thinking into day-to-day operations. For example, in building Rivers State, we should adopt the Aristotelian’s philosophy that “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”.
“It is imperative then that we decouple Rivers State away from the one-city State status. We should create 3 cities: 1 per Senatorial zone. This bottom-up strategy will ensure all senatorial zones are developed.
Our new cities will compete to attract money, investors, entrepreneurs, researchers, innovators, and labour. Money is a coward, it only goes to where it is welcomed. The new Rivers State will welcome wealth and Godliness. You should be happy to stay in any part of Rivers State, earn a living and take care of your family. Port Harcourt must not be the only city. Let’s adopt strategic leadership in governance in Rivers State. We can achieve the ‘Rivers of Our Dreams,” he said.
With over two decades of working in the energy sector prior to founding Gabriel Domale Consulting, Gborogbosi has served in a variety of leadership and managerial roles, including most recently as finance manager, a portfolio of major capital projects. Before that, he was deputy business finance manager (production assets); head, business controls & SAP compliance monitoring; knowledge management advisor (finance consulting & contracting transformation); and deputy head, corporate budgeting. He was also a member of the corporate strategy, planning, budget and reporting team. Leesi is a doctoral candidate in strategy at IE Business School, Madrid. He received MSc (Research Methodology in Management) from IE Business School, Madrid, an MBA (Finance and Banking) from University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria and BSc (Accountancy) from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Leesi is also the Chairman and CEO of Gborogbosi Foundation that focuses on public policy, economic development, educational support (scholarships), and youth training and mentoring.
