The Life Coaches Association of Nigeria (LCAN) has called on African leaders to focus on the continent’s untapped potential and use local coaches that will project Africa’s cultural and mental heritage.

The association made the call, on Wednesday, during the celebration of Africa Culture Week, which focused on the continent’s untapped potential and the need for a coaching approach that would reflect Africa’s cultural and mental heritage.

At the event, themed, “The Afrocoaching Revolution: Tapping into African Wisdom for Global Change,” stakeholders stressed the need for Africans to embrace indigenous practices to foster transformation.

According to the President of LCAN, Omawumi Ogbe, Africa, often viewed as a recipient of aid, is rich in resources, talents, and wisdom that should be leveraged for global change.

Ogbe stressed that coaching in Africa must be tailored to the continent’s distinct mentality, culture and values, which could offer valuable insights for success.

She urged Africans to reconnect with their roots to drive meaningful transformation and contribute to global progress.

Chairman of LCAN’s Board of Trustees, Lanre Olusola, stressed the importance of psychological safety in human development, describing mental health as fragile, and stressing that to thrive, Africans must recognise the urgency of embracing the challenges of the modern world.

Olusola pointed out that coaching was a crucial intervention that could help optimise performance and productivity, citing its widespread use in sports, entertainment, and business.

In support of promoting life coaching in the entertainment industry, Nigerian actor, Mofe Damijo, pointed out that the movie industry was already playing a significant role in conveying values through storytelling.

He argued that life coaching should be rooted in African values, deeply embedded in the continent’s stories.

Damijo expressed concern that adopting foreign values could erode Africa’s cultural identity.

He advocated a return to African wisdom as the foundation for global influence, stressing that the world needed to recognise Africa’s inherent strength and unique contributions.