The Nigerian military has been applauded for their zeal
and commitment towards ensuring the protection of Nigeria’s territorial
integrity and the fight against insurgency in some parts of the country. The
Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu gave the commendation while
delivering a lecture on Tuesday at the Armed
- -Forces Command and Staff
College, Jaji, Kaduna, attended by officers of the rank of Majors across the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Delivering a speech with the title "Leadership: the
private sector perspective", Elumelu, while acknowledging the pivotal
being played by the military said that the military institution has contributed
immensely to the unity and peace in the nation. According to him, the development
of any nation is assured by the quality of its armed forces among other public
institutions. “The Nigerian Military gives us hope in this country. The
facilities I see here are comparable to any I have seen in Europe and the US,”
Elumelu said.
While sharing his thoughts on leadership in the private
sector, Elumelu stated that there is no difference between private and public
sector leadership, rather, the focus of leaders should be on mapping out a
vision and mobilising people to fulfil the vision. “ The public sector leaders,
likewise their counterparts in the private sector must understand that to
succeed in business or public service, they have to lead well. Leaders who
succeed are those who think legacy,” Elumelu affirmed.
He further reiterated the responsibility of leaders to
galvanise change and development, charging those present to think of leaving a
lasting legacy behind for generations to come “to prove to the world that this
is not a wasted generation’.
Elumelu's speech affirms his stance of the private sector
taking a more proactive role in the development of Africa, embodied in his
philosophy called Africapitalism. He encouraged the students to become leaders
of purpose as leadership is not by accident, rather, leaders are made. “People
do not buy into a vision they do not understand; they buy into a vision and
mission that resonate with them,” he said.
Responding to the speech, the Commandant of the Armed
Forces Command and Staff College, Air Vice Marshal Suleiman Abubakar Dambo,
appreciated Elumelu’s perspective on leadership. “We are delighted to have in
our presence an embodiment of knowledge, visionary leadership, and above all,
an encyclopaedia of leadership,” he said.
“I agree that leaders are made not born. Otherwise, how
do you explain an individual having a conglomerate, multi-national corporations
in 20 African countries and doing very well in those countries, in so many
sectors ranging from the financial sector, oil and gas, real estate, and so
on?” he asked.
The Commandant concluded by appreciating Elumelu's
generosity in sharing his leadership knowledge with the students of the
college.
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