Shocking reasons why Nigeria is under-developed after 55 years

By Ikenna Asomba

Buhari

After 55 years of Nigeria's independence, concerned local and international stakeholders have continued to express dissatisfaction that the nation is still grappling with the teething problem of leadership.

Worrisomely, Malaysia, Brazil and Singapore, which are peers to Nigeria, have since left it behind in terms of right leadership and development.

It's against this backdrop, that coaching experts who spoke last Tuesday, in Lagos, at a Breakfast Seminar Agenda (BSA), organised by the International Coach Federation (ICF), Nigerian chapter, to commemorate the 2015 International Coaching Week, were pissed that Nigeria has over the years been frailed with under-development because of poor leadership.

Those who spoke at the event were the President, ICF-Nigeria, Ajibola Ponnle; Managing Director, Heineken/Nigerian Breweries, Nico Vervelde; Managing Partner, Corporate Engagement Services, Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC), USA, Zackarie Lemelle; Board member, ICF-Nigeria, Sochi Ilomechina; Business Result Coach, Olusola Lanre Coaching (OLCA), Bashir Muse; Lead Consultant/Coach, Blue Galaxy Consults, Funmilola Aje among others.

They particularly affirmed that if the incoming administration of Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari is to get the leadership of this country aright, it must be passionate about ensuring it better the lots of Nigerians through its programmes and policies, adding that it must jettison the idea of being perfect and not open to learning new leadership ideas, which is unfortunately the stock-in-trade of most African leaders.

Earlier, Emechina, who spoke to NIGERIANCOMPATRIOT disclosed that whilst the ICF was birthed in 1995, with over 25, 000 members globally, the Nigerian chapter was officially launched on May 7, 2015 by 10 Board members, who are certified coaches, adding that the breakfast seminar is aimed at introducing the ICF to Nigerians, enlightening them on what coaching is and what it's not.

Speaking, at the event, Lemelle, the Keynote Speaker, who harped on the need for Nigerian and African leaders to embrace coaching programmes in order to bring about even development to their citizens said: “I think the programme is good for Nigeria, particularly as the country is embracing change of leadership. This programme can transform Nigerian people, businesses, leadership. Nigerians must understand the major roles and power coaches have in transforming their lives. I want to see the kind of leadership structure already in place in the US, Europe here in Africa and Nigeria.

“I think it is the understanding of identifying what true leadership is that is the problem in Nigeria. I think Nigerian leaders should begin to see leadership as a way to lead, to inspire, to rally the country around what it takes for Nigeria to be powerful. I was having a conversation with my driver who was asking what makes the US different from other places of the world in terms of leadership. My answer to him was the constitution.

“The constitution of the US advises on how the country is to be run, how it wants to be seen. Nigeria has to do the same thing here. Nigerian leaders must begin to lead, to inspire and to motivate the people on what it takes to be a very powerful country. In the heart of Nigeria is greatness, but it's the job of leaders here to bring that out of all citizens. In the US, it has however, been a 300 years experience, but we are still working hard towards that.”

Advising the incoming Buhari administration on the way to forward to bring about good governance to the Nigerian people, the IPEC boss said: “The incoming administration must have a heart for the people of this country. The new leadership must be passionate about the Nigerian people. The new leaders must wake up every single day thinking about how they can make life better for the average Nigerian citizen; how are they are going to make it better for the children of this country, because they are the future of this nation. The new leadership must better the lots of every Nigerian, and not just the few. When this is done, they can now sit back to watch Nigeria become the amazing power it should be.”

Similarly, Aje, who affirmed that coaching and leadership are perfect combination, said “Every Nigerian leader needs a coach, because a coach will help a leader see beyond the position When a leader can bring himself out and be open to his people, they will surely see him beyond his position as a leader that cares for his people. This is what we are lacking in our leadership in this part of the world.

“When African and Nigerian leaders begin to focus on the people and not just on their position or what they can get, things would get better and definitely that is what a coach can bring out in a leader. One other set-back we have in Nigeria and Africa at large is that leaders feel they are perfect and that nobody should tell them anything.

“However, the fact remains that we learn everyday. Anybody that stops learning stops growing and anything that stops growing starts dying. Eventhough you are a leader, no matter what level you are, there is always an avenue for growth and learning. When Nigerian leaders begin to see that there is an avenue for growth for them and their followers, Nigeria will be better for it.”