Brand and leadership strategist, Jide Adeyemi, has called for purposeful and intentional leadership in Nigeria, stressing that the country’s major challenge is not a lack of capable leaders, but the absence of continuity, genuine concern for citizens and sustainable governance.

Adeyemi, while speaking at a colloquium yesterday, where he presented his book, “Life Guide: Stories, lessons and insights to empower your journey,” noted that Nigeria is richly blessed with human capital, but suffers from inconsistent leadership approaches that hinder national development.

He said that the pattern of starting and abandoning projects with each change of administration had created systemic instability that affects planning, investment and public trust.

According to him, many political leaders enter government without a clear purpose, often abandoning the programmes of their predecessors to pursue a personal agenda rather than building on existing achievements.

“We have amazing leaders in Nigeria, but what is lacking is intentionality and purposeful leadership. One government comes with fantastic programmes, and immediately it leaves, the next administration starts something new. That is why we don’t have continuity,” he said.

He stated that this cycle of discontinuity prevents institutions from maturing and makes it difficult to measure impact over time.

Adeyemi, who stated that sustainable leadership requires leaders who are genuinely concerned about people, committed to impact, and determined to leave lasting legacies that outlive their tenure, said the focus should shift from personal visibility to systems, structures and policies that remain functional regardless of who is in office.

The leadership strategist described Nigeria as a country filled with enormous opportunities despite its challenges, noting that gaps in critical sectors create room for innovation and enterprise.

“This is one country where you can go to bed with nothing and wake up the next morning becoming a millionaire because someone gives you an opportunity. In places where everything already works, there may be fewer opportunities, but in Nigeria, there are many gaps to fill,” he stated.

Adeyemi noted that the existence of unmet needs in infrastructure, education, health, agriculture and technology provides a wide field for entrepreneurs and professionals to create solutions that also generate employment and wealth.

He, however, said that the event was designed to provide guidance and clarity for individuals navigating life, business, leadership, faith and nation-building in an increasingly distracting world.

He emphasised the interconnectedness of leadership, faith, branding and nation building, saying that no society can thrive without stable leadership, strong values and effective communication.

Adeyemi said that branding at the personal, organisational and national levels determines how a society is perceived and how effectively it can attract partnerships and investment.

He said that his book was written to help readers gain personal clarity, build purposeful lives, and develop wisdom for growth across different areas of life, adding that the book draws from real experiences, conversations and observations to offer practical lessons on decision-making, resilience, integrity and long-term planning.

In his remark, veteran comedian and entrepreneur, Atoyota Alleluya Akpobome (a.k.a. Ali Baba), urged Nigerians to deliberately develop their talents and create opportunities that would benefit others, stressing that true success should inspire and empower more people.

He stated that influence is built when individuals intentionally nurture their potential until it becomes valuable and indispensable to the society.

The comedian, who noted that talent alone is not enough, said that individuals must continuously develop their abilities to the point where they become recognised assets.

He, therefore, stressed the need for Nigerians to appreciate and acknowledge people who create opportunities and contribute meaningfully to the society as recognition encourages others to do the same.

Ali Baba maintained that recognising and rewarding positive contributions is essential for building a compassionate and progressive society where individuals are motivated to continue creating opportunities for others.

He said a culture of acknowledgement strengthens social capital and encourages more people to invest their skills in solving public problems.