Date: 2012-05-01

The Vice-Chancellor, Kwara State University, Ilorin, Prof. AbdulRasheed Na'Allah, has urged lecturers and undergraduates to imbibe good leadership qualities to fast-track national development as well as their personal growth.

Speaking during an interview with our correspondent in Ilorin on Monday at a leadership discussion summit organised by Plat Technologies Limted and Iqra Books Nigeria, he said there was the problem of good leadership in the country.

The summit was titled, 'The labour of our heroes past.'

Na'Allah, however, stated that there were few exemplary past leaders of Nigeria that displayed sterling leadership qualities that directed the nation towards development. One of such leaders, he said, include the late General Tunde Idiagbon.

He said, "We are definitely sure that there are several lessons that we all can learn from the life and leadership style of Idiagbon, who the nation saw mainly as a no nonsense soldier."

He stated that lecturers and undergraduates should emulate the nation's exemplary leaders; adding that with good leadership, both the university system and the country would witness accelerated development.

"People in tertiary institutions must realise that they are part of the leadership of the country. University is involved in the leadership and development of the nation.  Lecturers are examples. It is the trust the society has in to them.

"There are so many issues in our universities that have shown clearly that leadership is lacking  in the way we do things in our nation and even in our universities. Students must follow examples of good leaders.  There are wonderful leaders even in the university system. There are people who have demonstrated exceptional leadership.  People like Idiagbon have shown examples of good leadership to even lecturers," Na'Allah said.

A former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Akanbi (rtd), also noted that there was the need to instil discipline in students and Nigerians generally.

According to him, students must be encouraged to imbibe and display good leadership qualities so as to advance their immediate environment and the nation at large.

Akanbi, who is also the founding Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, said  leaders should emulate the good qualities of Idiagbon by taking actions that would redirect the nation towards discipline and prudent management of resources.

"What we need to encourage young people to do is that they should know that if they are put in a position to do something, they must try to leave a legacy. They must be able to prove to others that they tried their best possible and that they have made the society better than they met it. Idiagbon did his best.  He did his best for his society. Young people must be able to do much more," he said.

Balogun Fulani of Ilorin Emirate, Alhaji Mahmud Atiku, said there was the need to remember exemplary past leaders so as to encourage present and future leaders to exhibit good leadership.

He said not enough recognition was being given to past leaders who sacrificed for the country and contributed positively to its development.

"We praise leaders when they are alive and forget them when they are no more. Those exemplary past leaders shaped Nigeria and we need to recognise them.  If people had continued the Idiagbon's initiatives and legacies, Nigeria would have been a better place to live in now," Atiku said.