As someone who has long advocated for the pivotal role of leadership, I firmly believe it is the major determinant in turning around any country, state, community, company, department, or organization. A leader has the power to make or break the success of a group. The burden of responsibility weighing on leaders is immense, yet often underestimated when one steps into a leadership position, whether appointed or elected. A leader’s actions and inactions are closely watched and emulated by followers, ultimately shaping the group’s collective actions.
While some of my friends believe followers play a major part in the outcome of a leader’s plans, I respectfully disagree. Although the role of followers cannot be ignored, it is the leader who sets the pace and direction for them to follow. As a leader, do not be deceived – your followers are observing your every move, and your behavior dictates their actions. Just as a father who constantly shouts at his children and wife will likely see his eldest son mirroring that behavior towards siblings, leaders instill patterns that ripple through their ranks.
Order within any system stems from the leader, not the followers. Leaders establish the terms and boundaries, while followers operate within those prescribed limits. When followers overstep those bounds, it becomes the leader’s responsibility to enforce consequences. History provides ample examples of transformative leadership across nations and organizations. Lee Kuan Yew reshaped Singapore, while Paul Kagame guided Rwanda’s recovery from a war-torn state. Nigeria, my beloved country, has also witnessed such impact in some states and this will be highlighted below
Corporations are not left out of numerous examples of visionary leaders catalyzing remarkable turnarounds. Steve Jobs’ return to Apple propelled the company from losses to profitability, while his successor Tim Cook steered it to become the world’s first trillion-dollar company. Jack Welch’s leadership revitalized General Electric, and Lee Iacocca’s guidance rescued Ford from its struggles.
Turning to contemporary Nigeria, the current Minister of Interior has earned widespread praise for streamlining passport issuance through pragmatic changes that delivered tangible results. Simultaneously, the Minister of ICT has embarked on an ambitious initiative to train 3 million people, creatively addressing Nigeria’s pressing unemployment challenge. These two ministers have distinguished themselves as exemplars among their peers.
The impact of Donald Duke’s leadership in Cross River State from 1999 to 2007 cannot be denied. Regrettably, his major projects have fallen into disrepair due to a lack of continuity in leadership vision. Similarly, Niger State’s current governor offers hope of agricultural revolution, as we have long advocated in this country. He has decided to spearhead this and we earnestly await the harvest of his actions.
Lagos State stands as a shining example of how the right leadership can transform a region. While the citizens of Lagos are no different from those in other states, the key differentiator has been the visionary leadership steering the state’s progress. This underscores why I challenge those who believe anyone can effectively lead Lagos – for if that were true, projects like the Obudu Cattle Ranch and Tinapa Resort would still be thriving today. Instrumental to Lagos’ success has been the establishment of entities like the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA), and Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) – initiatives driven by strong leadership. The reformation of the state’s judiciary can not be left out as one of the successes of leadership in Lagos state. These are not undertakings ordinary citizens or followers could accomplish; true change emanates from those at the helm who set the tone for others to align with.
If you seek sustainable transformation in any sphere or environment, look no further than leadership. Identify and empower the right leader, and the path to progress will unfold.