In a bid to address the persistent leadership deficit that has contributed to Africa’s stagnation and underdevelopment, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the African Development Bank (AFDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and other distinguished figures are scheduled to deliver keynote addresses at the inaugural Africa Leadership Conference (ALC).
This information was disclosed by Dr. Linus Okorie, CEO of the GOTNI Leadership Centre, during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Other speakers lined up to examine the challenge of leadership deficit in the continent include: Hon. Justice Mabel Segun Bello, a Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, George Fraser, Chairman and CEO of FraserNet, Inc., and Prof. P.LO. Lumumba, among others.
According to Okorie, the conference aims to bring together thought leaders, policymakers, business moguls, and changemakers from across Africa and the diaspora to discuss strategies for nurturing a new generation of visionary leaders.
He said, “The deficit of leadership capital in Africa has been a longstanding challenge, contributing to the continent’s stagnation, and underdevelopment.
“As the most populous black nation in the world and Africa’s giant, Nigeria recognizes the urgency to collaborate with other African countries in charting a new course for a transformed Africa.”
Speaking also, Hon Shina Peller, a former member of the House of Representatives from Nigeria, reflecting on the significance of the conference, shared, “From the outset, we stand united in the belief that Africa was not destined to fail. Africa is rich in human and natural resources, yet it is widely acknowledged that a dearth of effective leadership has led to stagnation.”
He also highlighted the nexus between entrepreneurship and leadership. “Entrepreneurship entails taking responsibility, and intrapreneurship is an act of leadership. The solutions to Africa’s challenges rest in the hands of visionary leaders and entrepreneurs,” Peller stated.
According to him, the conference is a rallying point for Africans on the continent and in diaspora to come together and forge a new path for Africa.
“We must look within and acknowledge that the solutions to our problems must come from within. Our leaders must grasp the importance of cultivating a new generation of leaders in Africa—leaders who will take active responsibility for improving their communities,” the former lawmaker declared.
In a massive mobilization effort, approximately 200 CEOs from Nigeria and 300 from across Africa are expected to convene in Ghana to participate in this transformative event.
“Our goal is to inspire a new generation of leaders for Africa, bridge the gap between Africans at home and abroad, and establish a new leadership culture that fosters socioeconomic development across the continent,” added Sam Hart mni, Chief Operation Officer of GOTNI Leadership Centre.
The event scheduled for May 17th and 18th, 2024, in Accra, Ghana, will revolve around the theme: ‘Transformational Leadership, the Panacea for Africa’s Rising.’
