From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah’s leadership philosophy was in focus on Friday during a public lecture on ethical leadership and development at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
The lecture, themed “Ethical Leadership and Development”, was organised by the university management in collaboration with the Ethics, AI, and Higher Education Strategy Team (EAISTRAP), led by Professor Casmir Ani. It was held at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, UNN.
Delivering the keynote lecture, the Executive Chairman of Nsukka Local Government Area, Jude Asogwa, spoke on the importance of transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in leadership.
“It is not enough for leaders to act with integrity; citizens must also hold them to high standards, ensuring that unethical practices are challenged and corrected,” Asogwa said.
He advocated for community-based monitoring systems that allow citizens to report corruption, mismanagement, or service failure, describing ethical leadership as the foundation of sustainable development.
Representing Governor Mbah at the event, Enugu State Commissioner for Environment, Samuel Ugwu, commended the organisers for hosting the lecture, which he described as timely.
“Before his election, His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, had already made his manifesto known to the people, and he promised a new idea of governance, and that idea is disruptive innovation,” Ugwu said.
He explained that the administration is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and ICT tools to promote transparency and innovation. He also noted that the university’s AI ethics institute aligns with UNESCO’s ethical AI standards.
In his remarks, the Acting Vice Chancellor of UNN, Professor Oguejiofor Ujam, represented by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Romanus Ezeokonkwo, said the university is committed to promoting leadership values anchored on ethics and service.
“UNN, as a premier university, is not only concerned about academic excellence but also about ethics and values that shape good leaders who can steward our nation, states, local governments, and communities,” he said.
Ujam also commended Governor Mbah’s infrastructure development across the state, particularly the ongoing dualisation of the Nike–Opi–Nsukka road, which he described as a legacy project.
Earlier, EAISTRAP Team Leader, Professor Casimir Ani, praised Asogwa for embodying the governor’s “Tomorrow is Here” governance philosophy. He noted that the local government boss’s approach reflects Mbah’s emphasis on transparency, innovation, and resource management.
Ani said EAISTRAP is committed to embedding ethical leadership in AI governance, educational quality assurance, and the training of future leaders.
Chairman of the occasion, Professor D.N. Eze, and the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Thaddeus Nzeadibe, both emphasised the need for ethical leadership in driving Nigeria’s development.
Nzeadibe added that the faculty remains committed to grooming leaders with the integrity and innovation required for national transformation.