Prominent scholars and legal experts have raised concerns over Africa’s leadership deficit, stressing the urgent need to reform the continent’s leadership recruitment process.

Speaking at a valedictory lecture marking the 70th birthday lecture of the former Director of the Distance Learning Centre (DLC) of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Adebayo Okunade, speakers including former Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Adeolu Akande; a former Chief of Staff to the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Prof. Emmanuel Olugbade Ojo; a former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Dr. Akin Onigbinde (SAN); a renowned scholar, Prof. Osisioma Nwolise; a Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, Azeem Salako; Prof. John Ayoade, and others lamented that there is a serious leadership deficit in Africa.

The scholars stressed that for Africa to get it right, its leadership recruitment process must be examined and recalibrated.

The programme, which took place at the Large Lecture Theatre of the Faculty of Social Sciences, UI, had the theme: “Is Leadership Sufficient to Deliver National Transformation?”

Organized by the Political Science Department of the premier university, the event was also in commemoration of Okunade’s retirement from the Political Science Department of the Ibadan university.

Speaking as a discussant, the Professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Ilorin and the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s former Chief of Staff, Ojo, argued that toxic leadership was responsible for nations’ failures.

The professor said Nigeria and the continent are in great need of purposeful leadership, pointing out that there is a generational problem on the continent.

The political science scholar said: “The strongest attribute of a leader is vision. A leader must have vision. Without vision, there is no tomorrow. Chief Obafemi Awolowo had a vision; that was why he succeeded. There is a serious leadership deficit in Africa.

“Presently, there is an urgent need to reinvent leadership in Africa. Without that, the consequential effect will be telling not only on the continent but also on the whole world. African leaders in all facets require a kind of complete reorientation for a servant leadership model to evolve.

“The continent, indeed, is in great need of purposeful leadership. The current set of leaders needs a general overhaul or should give way for the emergence of a new set. But the current circulating governing elite, no doubt, has been a clog in the wheel of progress.”
Another discussant, Salako of NIIA, said the purpose of leadership is national transformation, and the leadership recruitment process must be examined.
Also speaking, Prof. Adeolu Akande, a political scientist and media personality who was the chairman of the occasion, said the country needed to overhaul its leadership recruitment process.

Akande said: “Nigeria needs leadership that is visionary, principled, and efficient. And this also applies to the issue of the recruitment of leaders. That’s a very serious issue when it relates to education. You should also not overlook the cleavages in Nigeria. Those are issues that impact leadership recruitment and the structure and performance of leadership at all levels, particularly the federal government.”

Onigbinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who was the first Ph.D. student of Prof. Okunade, said there could never be a quick-fix recipe for the leadership recruitment process in any country.

The former speaker said: “Any entity that prioritizes proven competence and character below the possession of cash cannot expect to have the same outcomes in leadership recruitment as others with more sublime values treat as priorities.”

Also speaking, Prof. Nwolise said: “If we do not take care of the leadership recruitment process, we are going nowhere. We must take care of the electoral process, and electoral law must be adhered to. If we don’t do that, in the next 300 years, we will be where we are now.”

On his part, Prof. Ayoade said education is key to a better future for the country.

The Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, who was a student of Okunade, delivered the valedictory lecture.

Olaopa said, “A leader, as a change agent, requires a leadership framework that is distributed and multilevel to be able to engage with various dynamics of problems that a state faces.”

Also present at the programme were Prof. Adewale Yagboyaju, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, Peter Olapegba, Dr. Samson Olalere, Prof. Ezekiel Ayoola, Dr. Stephen Lafenwa, Prof. Adigun Agbaje, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, the Vice Chancellor of UI, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Peter Olapegba, Dr. Idowu Johnson, and a host of others.

They all lauded the humanity and impact of Okunade in academia, political exploits, and leadership development.
Responding, Prof. Okunade thanked those who graced the occasion to honour him.