Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, on Wednesday explained that the dearth of leadership has hampered the country’s development.
He stated this at the opening session of a leadership clinic organized for selected secondary schools in Benin City, the State capital, by the University of Abuja, in partnership with TETFUND Centre of Excellence in Public Governance and Leadership, tagged: “Youth Leadership Clinic 2025.”
The Governor who delivered the Keynote address titled: “Shaping the future: The importance of leadership in Edo State youth development”, was represented by a student of public governance and leadership of Abuja Leadership Centre, Mrs Joy Adesina (SAN).
He explained that leadership is not about having power, but about using one’s action and influence to create needed change.
“Leaders must be very courageous and has vision, must display empathy and integrity.
“Discovery your strength, set levels, step us, take action, speak out, be the leader that Edo state need,” he urged the students.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Team Lead and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Admin), UNIAbuja, Prof. Philip Afaha, noted that people get to know about leadership when they have stepped into the position, which he said Uniabuja sees it as abnormal, hence reason why it commissioned men to catch leaders of tomorrow young from secondary schools.
He urged the students to maximize the opportunity given to them through the leadership clinic, promised to give scholarship to selected students that excel in the clinic.
Also speaking, the Director of Abuja Leadership Centre, Prof. Gabriel Moti, noted that leadership has been an issue in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the clinic was anchored on the principle of catching the them young.
In his goodwill message, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, lauded the Centre for identifying leaders and proffering solutions to leadership crisis.
Iyamu who was represented by Kenneth Eguakun, promised that the State will collaborate with the Leadership Centre to sustain the training.
Other Facilitators include a former Commissioner for Information in the State, Hon. Abdul Oroh and a former member of the House of Representatives, Patrick Ikhariale.
