For Nigeria to address its socio-economic challenges and resume its position in the comity of Nations, there is a need for the electorate to invest in leaders with adaptive intelligence to solve problems, Sylvanus Ogbor, chief executive officer of Soleta Foods Limited, has said.
Speaking at a public lecture at Mountain Top University, Magboro, Ogun State, recently, Ogbor said for Nigeria to solve its leadership challenge and realise its potential, the leaders must not only be intelligent, but also adaptive to solving pressing problems.
Delivering the lecture with the theme: ‘Leadership: Intelligence in disruption’, he said leadership is about self-awareness of the volatility, uncertainties, complexities and ambiguity that goes around the country.
While explaining some of the basic terms, Ogbor noted that leadership in today’s world is not about holding a position or having the authority to exercise regarding some issues.
According to him, to get effective and efficient leadership, Nigerians need leaders who can apply intelligence to solve problems, a person who looks inside and applies intelligence in the face of disruption, too.
“We need leaders who will use adaptive intelligence to solve problems. You are adaptive when you can confront current challenges and problems with the intelligence that is relevant for such.”
“It is not about relying on tactics and solutions that are light years behind the current challenges the society is facing. Today’s disruptions are not only ambiguous, but they keep changing in a matter of seconds, so relying on what you did in the 1970s or 1980s is a method that may not work,” he said.
Ogbor further said that Nigeria is blessed with a youthful population with a lot of intelligence, but unfortunately, some of them are not using their intelligence to positively impact society.
“The excuse that the harsh economic situation is a factor for going into crime is untenable. Also, saying a poor background is the reason for not achieving one’s goal is also unnecessary. Be the star of your movie,” he said.
Ogbor, who also promised to assist some indigent students of the institution, said it was divine grace that had taken him this far.
“I have a non-profit organisation that does charity work, and it will take that up. I believe in positively impacting my community and the society at large,” he added
Ogbor listed the various intelligences that youths need to excel to include adaptive, emotional, strategic, skills, digital, resilience and crisis intelligence.
He charged the students to think beyond today and lead with impact, never stop learning and create the future they want.
Elijah Ayolabi, vice chancellor of Mountain Top University, described Ogbor as an embodiment of transformative leadership and said the lecture was a master class.
“At MTU, this lecture aligns with our mission to be a centre of academic excellence. Leadership is about impact and not about control. The need for intelligent leadership is now greater. I charge our young ones to be ready to make an impact despite the challenges facing them,” he said.
In her address, Omolola Omosebi, acting director of the Directorate of Apprenticeship and Community Relations, said the lecture could not have come at a more auspicious time.
She said that everybody is a leader and that it is not until one holds a political position or is a boss in a place of work that he can be seen as one.
