By Emma Njoku
Public and private sector stakeholders recently converged on Lagos for what they tagged the 2024 Lead the future conference.
The event, with the theme: Strategic Positioning: Leadership and competitiveness in an era of disruption, attracted business leaders, executives, and change-makers from diverse sectors, all eager to share insights and strategies for thriving in an ever-evolving global landscape high-power networking sessions with special focus on mentorship, and networking opportunities to empower leaders to navigate disruption and position themselves for success.
Prominent among the speakers and mentors included the CEO of ScribeTribe Africa, Bright UK and the convener of the Lead the Future conference, Niyi Adesanya, CEO of FifthGear Plus, Niyi Adedanya, Board Executive, Adeola Azeex, Social Policy Advocate, Founder, AACCF, Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director, MTN Foundation, Emmanuel Asika, Country Head for Nigeria, HP Inc., Victor Afolabi, Founder & CEO, Eko Innovation Centre and Olaniyi Yusuf, Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
Speaking at the event, CEO, ScribeTribe Africa, Bright UK, emphasised what the 21st century leadership entails. “Leadership is no longer about holding a position of power or ruling people; it is about becoming the best version of yourself so that you can inspire and empower others to do the same. It’s about leading with purpose, empathy, and responsibility.
“We are living in a time where leadership is undergoing a profound transformation. Gone are the days of hierarchical power structures where kings ruled over servants, and military ranks defined authority. As leaders, we must ensure that we truly understand the people we lead. No one feels understood unless they are truly being listened to.
“As leaders in this new era, we must work on building our self-esteem, security, and authenticity. It begins with a leader’s own journey of self-awareness and security. By working on these qualities, we not only improve ourselves, but we set the stage for others to do the same.”
Also speaking at the conference, Odunayo Sanya Executive Director, MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, stressed the importance of balancing profitability and sustainability equation.
“Businesses, today, need to be purpose-driven and ready to give back to the communities where they operate. While the soul of business is profitability, it is not profitability alone that should matter to stakeholders. The natural environment must not be neglected in the process of conducting business. We need to be conscious of sustainability to ensure we do not negatively impact future generations.
“For instance, at MTN Nigeria, there was a time when we used large packs for our SIM cards. Years later, we reduced the size of the packaging. Just a few weeks ago, we launched the first-ever biodegradable SIM cards to replace plastic cards, all in an effort toward sustainability,” she said.
Sanya also spoke on the impact of MTN Nigeria Foundation on communities across the country. “In 2004, we established the MTN Nigeria Foundation.
Twenty years later, we have awarded more than 14,000 scholarships, renovated over 200 primary health care centers, upgraded more than 200 college laboratories, and trained over 15,000 women in empowerment programs. While I am not here to advertise the MTN Foundation, I mention these achievements as part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability. Businesses need to take the issue of sustainability seriously. We must avoid cases of “greenwashing,” where companies make misleading claims about their environmental efforts to appear more sustainable than they really are. These claims often turn out to be superficial or entirely false. It is through genuine efforts to give back to the community that businesses can ensure their long-term protection and trust within the environments where they operate.”
The speakers led thought-provoking sessions on leadership excellence and organisational adaptability in a world of constant change.