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The need for Nigeria to strengthen its quality leadership role in Africa has again been highlighted, with the emphasis that its role must go beyond rhetoric, as Nigeria’s economic development drives that of the entire continent and the world on a large scale.
This call, however, was jointly made on Monday in Abuja by the wife of Osun State Governor, Amb. Mrs Ngozi Abene-Adeleke, Mr. Ike Nenliaku, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), as well as other African participants in the 2026 edition of INT International step leadership delegate summit, with its purpose to turn development plans into results.
While declaring the 5-day summit open, the Osun State First Lady stated that for Africa to achieve this success, every plan should go beyond rhetoric. “The reason why we have not grown is that integrity is lacking in our system, and what I mean is that leadership is about leading the people with integrity. It means leading beyond words. Loving Africa must go beyond rhetoric, and it must be demonstrated through purposeful leadership, innovation, inclusion, and a genuine commitment to the well-being of our people.
The Osun State First Lady, who serves as the occasion’s Chief Guest of Honour, highlighted that the Osun State government has priorities in leading by example,e especially on women and youth empowerment. “It is one thing to be there, but it is another to know what the people want and how to give it to them. The state, is not government is not just there, our people more especially women and the youth can testify.”
Speaking earlier, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Mr. Ike Nenliaku, stated that leadership is a challenge of responsibility and that the time has come for such individuals to be taking. ” The problem is that the majority who had the opportunity are not willing to take responsibility, nd those who are willing don’t have the opportunity to serve. That is the dilemma of the African continent, and number two, we have this challenge of programming, nd I call it the mystery behind ruling without thinking, otherwise known as the leadership race. We have been programmed that once you assume any leadership position in Africa, you become very busy. And when you are so busy, you don’t think, and when you don’t think, you cannot produce. Go and check: our ministers are very busy, our Governors are very busy, all the Chief Executives are very busy; you see, we are programmed. Also, we have the challenge of matching times with productivity. And the time for Africa is now. If you look at the horizon, you can see that the time for Africa is now, but the issue is:who are those who can transform productivity, transform performance, and give us progress. We are in short supply of such people; in short supply of such me. Next is the conspiracy of the elites, who have conspired to see that everybody is after his pocket and his mouth, not after society. It is only a few who want to see a transformed African society. So the Convener said that the elite has failed Africa, but I know that there is hope, because we have the challenge of reinventing Africa, because Africa can only reinvent Africa, not the other way round, because they work for their own interests; that is why they don’t give you the solution to your problems.
“Africa also has the challenge of miscommunication. Africa has been wrongly communicated by Africans and by nonon-AfricansThe responsibility to communicate Africa, it is our responsibility and the reason is simple because everyone is making sure that his own trumpet is seriously managed how it is blown and as a result of that what is communicated about Africa is all about sick babies quashokor, and the rest. Until Africa began to fight to ensure that Africa is properly communicated.
He said that Africans are currently doing well in the field of fintech.
In a welcome address, the convener of the ITEH NT International Step Delegate Leadership Summit2026, pProfessorVincent Onigbogu, noted that Africa’s problem is not simply the absence,f but insufficient capacity to transform productive institutions or competitive ones, or measurably in the lives of the people. He stresses that Africa does not need another beautiful declaration that ends in applause”.Africa needs an execution revolution. We cannot continue business as usual.” He said in 2022, Nigeria multi dimensional poverty index stood at approximately 133 million Nigerians in 36% experience multi dimensional poverty. He said this development challenges our inordinate ambitions, expenditure, institutional performance, and actual societal impact, which are not adding up.
The 5-day International leadership summit is featuring delegates from the USA, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Togo.
Outcome of the summit, according to the executive secretary, Eng. Seun Oluwalade, will be to form the communique and resolution to countries and organizations that need leadership mentoring.
