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One-time Niger Delta regional liaison officer and media consultant in the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, has applauded the Nigerian Armed Forces for producing some of the best leaders who are selfless, intelligent, decisive and dedicated.
Speaking with newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Wednesday, Mr Kiyaramo, a veteran journalist and consultant, while evaluating the maiden address by the new coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd), to management staff, on assumption of office, describing him as one of such refined and enthusiastic professional personalities produced by the Nigerian military is Col. Dixon (rtd).
Kiyaramo reiterated that such rare leadership qualities, which are critical in the military, are equally highly valued in the corporate world, such that some Fortune 500 companies now seek for retiring vibrant military officers like Col. Dikio (rtd) to be recruited into their management.
He pointed out that it was difficult to find any military role that does not confer some advantages on the civilian workplace, adding that even those persons who seem not to like the military, still admire them for their professionalism, discipline and being able to imbibe team spirit, which he said, were traits every serious minded civilian organisation will recognize as very useful.
The former regional liaison officer maintained that military leadership experience acquired through years of rigorous trainings are attributes that could seemingly be placed above others, and that such administrative competences are the ones that can really pay off for a civilian organization led by a vibrant retired military officer.
He stated that in the military, money may be the real incentive in galvanising troop activities, as the men may not even survive to spend such cash because of the probability of losing one’s life in the line of duty, adding that losing a fancy job title or rank may be of much concern to someone facing the prospect of injury or even death.
The consultant observed that from the content of the maiden speech of Col. Dikio (rtd) to the management staff on his day of assumption of duties as new coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, speaks volumes of his military discipline and deep understanding of human relations and personnel management.
He noted that his rich military background and his avowed commitment to the new assignment, played out from his maiden meeting with management staff, stressing that the new helmsman of the programme has clearly demonstrated his good intentions for programme, just as he is bent on service delivery.
Mr Kiyaramo who was the pioneer Nigerian Tribune correspondent in Yenagoa after Bayelsa was carved out from old Rivers State in 1996, said the body language of Col. Dikio’s speech was indicative of his willingness to move the programme to the next level all things being equal.
“This notion that subordinates at the workplace are often far better motivated by leaders they trust than those who merely offer rewards and punishments, is too often missing from civilian businesses. But managers with military leadership experience can bring this inspirational leadership style to any organization willing to invest in them.
“Many businesses are good at planning, but no one does it quite like the military. That’s because some of the situations they (military) have to deal with, like combat operations and grand-scale logistics, would require far more than a general procedure on how to get from A to B. Military leaders establish backup plans and perform mission rehearsal exercises to prepare for every foreseeable outcome of a given challenge.
“This kind of planning experience can transform a civilian company. Employees who have been carefully instructed, and who have thoroughly rehearsed their roles, are far more likely to effectively execute a strategy. And preparing for multiple contingencies means there are few, if any, unexpected outcomes; even if a venture doesn’t produce the desired result, there are backup plans to mitigate any losses. Preparation at this level is second nature to managers and executives with military leadership experience.
“In the military, leaders carefully evaluate the performance of individual service members. Areas in which they excel are noted. Then a plan is established to help them capitalize on their strengths and remedy their weaknesses. It might mean one-on-one time with a classroom instructor and more field training exercises as part of a team or even extra duty shifts that provide an opportunity to practice specific skills in a real-world environment”, he stated.
Mr Kiyaramo, a two time media assistant to two former speakers of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, said in the business world, training is often limited to a general orientation that takes place only during the first few weeks of employment, while mentorship may be nonexistent, or confined to informal arrangements made between the occasional supervisor and subordinate who happens to get along especially well, but in the military comprehensive, ongoing training and counselling are seen as priorities.
He said that leaders who learn their skills in the military can help companies and other corporate organizations to improve how they handle professional development because they understand the benefits of evaluating subordinates and creating a plan to continually improve their performance.
“They also know personal involvement is required, whether it’s an employee spending more time learning from his direct supervisor or upper-level managers taking the time to foster mentor-mentee relationships across board. Some of the most successful companies in the world have done this and received a great return on their investment. It requires a lot of work on the employer’s part, but can really help attract top-notch talent.
“There is no doubt that Col. Dikio (rtd) being a square peg in a square hole, and judging from his military background, will certainly bring his ernomous leadership perspectives and managerial skills to the table, with view to positively transforming the Presidential Amnesty Programme into real human capital development agency and change the narrative for the good of all and sundry in the Niger Delta region”, Mr Kiyaramo stressed.
