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Chuks Udo Okonta
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc Femi Asenuga, has identified five kind of leadership Nigeria needs to develop and rank with its peers globally.
He disclosed this in a keynote lecture presented at the 15th Annual Lecture Series of Bells University of Technology, Ota, held Wednesday, May 14, 2025, where he provided expert insights on the theme “Leadership: A Panacea to Innovation and Infrastructural Development in Developing Economy.”
According to him, Nigeria needs transformational leaders: those who can look beyond self-interest and inspire a collective vision of national progress. Leaders who challenge the status quo, ignite belief in what is possible, and bring people together around a shared purpose.
He said these are leaders who think boldly, act courageously, and unite citizens across ethnic, religious, and social lines.
He noted that the country also needs strategic leaders: individuals who are not only visionary but also grounded in data, policy, and execution. Leaders who plan systematically, monitor outcomes, and adjust strategies with agility.
Strategic leaders, he said think in decades, not just in terms of election cycles. They understand that sustainable development requires patience, planning, and persistence.
Continuing, he said the country needs collaborative leaders: those who understand that national development cannot be achieved in silos. Leaders who bring together government, academia, civil society, the private sector, and international partners to solve complex problems.
He added that true innovation happens when diverse stakeholders are at the table, co-creating solutions and sharing ownership of outcomes.
Collaborative leadership builds partnerships, trust, and collective responsibility, he submitted.
He said the nation needs ethical leaders: men and women of integrity who put the public interest above personal gain. Leaders who are transparent, accountable, and service-driven.
Without ethics, even the best plans fail. Ethical leadership is the foundation upon which trust is built, and trust is the currency of effective governance, he said
He said the country needs resilient leaders: individuals who do not shrink in the face of adversity. Leaders who remain focused even when the path gets rough, when criticism grows loud, and when results take time to manifest.
Resilient leadership he noted is about staying the course, learning from failure, and rising stronger after setbacks.
“I return to our central question: Is leadership truly a panacea for innovation and infrastructural development? I believe leadership may not be the only factor, but it is the catalytic factor, the one that unlocks all others.
“With the right leadership, institutions can be reformed. Plans can be executed. Resources can be optimized. The private sector can be mobilized. The youth can be empowered. And the nation’s full potential can be unleashed.
“To the students, many of you will go on to become the leaders of tomorrow. Start preparing now. Cultivate a vision that extends beyond self. Practice integrity in your daily life. Learn how to work across disciplines and with people from different backgrounds.
“Build things that matter. Ask hard questions. Stay curious. Lead with empathy,” he posited.
Asenuga told scholars and educators that their role is critical in shaping not just minds, but values. “You are not merely trainers of graduates; you are mentors of future presidents, governors, entrepreneurs, engineers, and innovators,” he said.
He implored them to infuse their teaching with purpose. Make leadership a theme in their curriculum and encourage bold thinking.
And to the policymakers and public servants, he urged them to lead with courage. Plan with foresight. Govern with purpose. Institutionalize the reforms that outlast their tenure. Be the leader who breaks the cycle of abandoned projects and resets the standard for public service.
He maintained that Nigeria does not lack capacity, it lacks continuity. It does not lack ideas, it lacks implementation. It does not lack hope, it needs hope that is backed by courageous, consistent action, stressing that leadership is the difference between where we are and where we could be.
“Let us be the generation that got it right,” he appealed.
