Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Most Rev. Dr Matthew Kukah, has decried the worsening insecurity in Nigeria, lamenting that the activities of bandits have brought the country to its knees.

Kukah said that with Nigeria’s vast ungoverned spaces, bandits have become adept at hiding their victims and operating with near impunity. He stressed the need for intentional and effective leadership to rescue the country from the grip of insecurity.

The cleric spoke yesterday in Lagos at the inaugural lecture commemorating the fifth memorial anniversary of the cleric, Emily Aig-Imoukhuede, themed, “Leadership and Service to God, Nation and Humanity.”

According to him, good leaders must understand and master the terrain and environment in which they operate. Explaining the concept of leadership, Kukah described it as an overused subject, noting that many people in positions of authority assume they are leading their followers in the right direction.

Kukah said leadership is about influence, discernment, clear vision and purpose, adding that it is not merely about holding religious or public office. He observed that many leaders fail to pay attention to setbacks, often assuming that things are progressing well in spite of evidence to the contrary.

Drawing lessons from Singapore’s transformation, he urged Nigerian leaders to emulate countries that have successfully overcome developmental challenges through effective leadership.

Speaking on the life of the late Emily Aig-Imoukhuede and the values that shaped her, Kukah emphasised the need to look beyond status and fame. He likened her life of service to Mother Teresa’s, noting her passion for children and the welfare of the less privileged.

In his welcome address, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede said the theme of the lecture challenges people to reflect not only on what leadership means, but also on what it requires. According to him, “it asks us to consider not simply what society owes us, but what we owe society; not simply how we succeed, but how we serve.”

He explained that to honour and preserve his mother’s enduring values, the family established the memorial lecture as an annual platform for reflection on leadership, citizenship, nation-building and service.

According to him, the occasion was designed to be more than an act of remembrance, but an opportunity to reflect on the values by which life should be lived and the responsibilities that accompany leadership.

Reflecting on his mother’s life, Aig-Imoukhuede said she was not defined by wealth, power or ideology, adding: “What distinguished her was something deeper – her unwavering commitment to service. She believed that every gift carried a responsibility and every opportunity carried an obligation.”

He added that while she prayed for her family and church, she also prayed fervently for Nigeria, which occupied a special place in her heart.

According to him, she believed deeply in the promise of the nation and never lost hope that its best days were still ahead.