LAGOS (Sundiata Scholar) – Honey Olawale, Director of Global Skills Hub, UK, an NGO, has called for regular leadership and administrative training of employees, saying it will bring good governance in the country.Olawale spoke at an Executive Leadership Training and Award organised by the NGO in partnership with Lion Outreach International, U.S., at Ikeja on Wednesday.
The event, which had the theme: “Lead with Impact’, had no fewer than 220 participants from private, public sectors and NGOs, and was used to recognise and award individuals with outstanding performances in their sectors.Olawale said: “
Training is very key to the success of any governance.“We, therefore, encourage the government to send workers in the Ministries, Parastatals and Agencies on constant training.“Not just on leadership alone but on administration as well, and it should cut across from key leaders to the level of local government.
We need this kind of training for all.“Our youths and young ones should not be left out too.“There is need to be exposing secondary schools students and university undergraduates to this kind of training; they need to be educated about leadership.“This will help to prepare their minds on what leadership is all about, because most of them have a mindset that leadership is like a boss thing, when you’re in position, you have to oppress others.“They need to know that once you’re a leader, you are meant to serve and be serving the people. If we can build this perception and they grow with it, then we are building a better nation,” he added.
Similarly, Dr Jerry Vreeman, Director, Lion Outreach International, U.S., who was also a resource person at the event, said there was need to upskill leaders and make them grow in their understanding of true leadership.
Vreeman urged those who occupied leadership positions to be committed to daily learning and growing, adding that the partnership looked forward to setting up a team to pilot regular development leadership training.According to him, leadership is not power, position and authority, rather the value and skills we develop and have to influence people in the right and positive direction toward a new concept of leadership.“
The participants have exhibited a high level of enthusiasm in the course of this programme, we have exposed them to leadership shift; that’s shifting our thinking much like the world is changing.“We are looking forward to develop an NGO of Lion Outreach International in Nigeria, to be supervised by the U.K. branch and groom leaders that will join us to lead other countries in Africa,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mrs Opaleye Temitope, a participant, while commending the organisers, described the training as “impactful”.She said: “
We learnt about the basics of leadership like self development, showing love to the followers and showcasing one’s self to reproduce others by leading aright”.Earlier, Dr Marian Akran, Africa Representative, Global Skills Hub, said that the training was organised to create awareness and bring to the understanding of participants the difference between a boss and a leader.“
The whole idea which is being addressed in this training is that a leader is meant to inspire, motivate, guide and lead subordinates into performing their best just by leaders behaviour, as opposed to position”.
Akran advised the participants especially those in the public sectors, personnel, executive administrators and professionals, to bring their takeaway to bear in their workplaces by way of implementation.
She, however, called on the awardees to keep doing the good work.“Your good works have singled you out, and Global Skills Hub celebrates you. Ensure you continue to carry your followers along,” she said. (NAN)
