Leadership Challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa (3)

IN this edition I will try to briefly mention some other factors that I believe play an important role in making leaders.

Training company and association

It is common knowledge that a man is influenced by the company he keeps. So a person who associates with others who have leadership traits and skills is likely to pick up on and display those traits themselves. An English proverb definitively confirms this principle. It says: “Birds of the same feather swarm together”.

Parental connection: Heritage

This is very similar to the Trait Theory. The only point of difference is that leadership skills in parental relationships, known as heritage, are not necessarily inherited or innate. They are more or less acquired through close association with older relatives.

Leadership training

In recognition of the fact that training plays an important role in shaping leaders, traditional history is rich in instances where traditional rulers sent their heirs to the throne to the courts or palaces of other monarchs to gain the required experience and skills to enable them to rule. successfully over their own kingdom when they eventually ascend to the throne. So it was not strange to find a prince of Owo sent to the palace of an Oba, far from his own domain. A classic example occurs in the case of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who spent considerable time in the palace of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo, where he learned the skills necessary to build a kingdom as big as Oyo to lead. . Interestingly, this practice was repeated, albeit in a different form, in medieval Europe up to the 20th century through intermarriage between the royal families of the major countries such as Spain, Russia, Netherlands, Austria, Norway, Sweden, France and the United Kingdom. .

Schools and colleges

Another factor that cannot be ignored in making leaders is the role that schools and educational institutions play. A learning institution, whether at the primary, secondary or tertiary level, is primarily placed to influence not only the academic growth of its students, but also their moral, cultural and social education, which factors ultimately determine whether they will appropriately fulfill the roles of leaders. Some years ago, His Royal Majesty, the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi II, a philosopher and well-read Oba at Afe Babalola University said, “The greatest benefit that education bestows on an individual is character. Character is determined by three major factors; heredity, environment and training. For the first time in this country we have seen someone put these parameters of character building into practice. We have in this environment a conducive atmosphere that supports and encourages learning, a well-stocked library, high-quality professionals, all from the unique effort of a single person.”

Teachers play an important role in setting and ultimately achieving goals by their students. In our time, we were constantly urged to embrace life’s challenges with strength. It was not uncommon to hear teachers tell hard-working students that they would be successful in life with every venture they laid their hands on. Clearly, some institutions excelled better than others at preparing their students for life’s challenges. In Nigeria, some institutions were known for the leadership qualities of their products. The Christ School, Ado-Ekiti, CMS Grammar School Lagos, Government College Ibadan, Abeokuta Grammar School, Abeokuta, Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Barewa College, Zaria, Kings College, Lagos all fall into this category.

In the United States of America, the universities of Yale, Stanford and Harvard are known for having produced several leading figures in the history of the country with the latter having produced several presidents including Barrack Obama.

professions

Some professional callings, by the nature of the instructions leading to qualifications, necessarily impart certain qualities to their practitioners, which in turn equip them well for leadership roles.

(a) The profession of lawyer

The profession of lawyer to which I belong is designed in such a way that it turns lawyers into deep thinkers. Lawyers are required by the rules of professional conduct and etiquette to adopt and display a very high standard of moral and professional conduct. Throughout history, lawyers have played an important role in the development of their country. Several Presidents of the United States of America, Prime Ministers of Great Britain were lawyers. The great Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Ghandhi referred to earlier both practiced as lawyers, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of Nigeria was also a lawyer.

(b) The military profession

The military is a profession based on discipline. This is achieved by imparting leadership skills through officer and enlisted training. In 1973, the US military established eleven leadership principles. These are;

1. Know Yourself and Strive for Self-Improvement – To know yourself, you must understand your “being, knowing and doing” traits. Searching for self-improvement means constantly strengthening your features. This can be achieved through self-study, formal lessons, reflection and interaction with others. 2. Be tech savvy – As a leader, you should know your craft and be well versed in the duties of your employees.
2. Seek accountability and take responsibility for your actions – Look for ways to take your organization to new heights. And when something goes wrong, sooner or later they always do – don’t blame others. Analyze the situations, take corrective action and move on to the next challenge. 4. Make good and timely decisions – Use good tools for problem solving, decision making and planning. 5. Lead by example – Be a good role model for your employees. They should not only hear what to do, but also see it. We must become the change we want to see – Mahatma Ghandi. 6. Know your people and care for their well-being – ¬ Know the human nature and the importance of genuine care for our employees. 7. Keep your employees informed – Know how to communicate not only with them, but also with seniors and other key people. 8. Develop a sense of responsibility in your employees – Help to develop good character traits that will help them carry out their professional responsibilities. 9. Ensure tasks are understood, controlled and performed – Communication is key to this responsibility. 10. Train as a team – While many so-called leaders refer to their organizations, departments, sections, etc. as a team, they are not real teams… they are just a group of people doing their jobs. 11. Leverage Your Organization’s Capabilities – Developing a team spirit will help you get the most out of your organization, department, department, etc.

With the above premise, it is no surprise that men like General Dwight Eisenhower and General Collin Powel returned after their military careers to serve their countries as president and secretary of state respectively. The same goes for General George Marshall whose plan – the Marshall Plan – for the reconstruction of Europe after World War II has become a point of reference or a kind of acronym for large-scale and intense action designed to meet emergencies of catastrophic proportions.

To be continued…..

Send your comments and suggestions to president@abuad.edu.ng

AARE AFE BABALOLA, OFR, CON, SAN, LL.D (London)