The International Coaching Fellowship (ICF) Nigeria Charter Chapter held a glamorous gala night to celebrate a decade of coaching impact at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

At the ceremony that brought together its members and guests including the representative of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, President, ICF, Nigeria Charter Chapter, Akanimo Ekong said the celebration was for several reasons.

“One is that International Coaching Federation has a geographical spread across one hundred and forty countries in the world with about sixty-two thousand members celebrating 30th anniversary of ICF this year.

“Secondly, we are celebrating our own tenth year anniversary in Nigeria which was started in 2015 and we are excited celebrating coaching and coaches. I did not start with them, but I know that a lot has gone in trying to educate people what coaching is all about.

“Coaching, which is a learning technology that really helps is important because it is different from other professions like counseling, mentoring. Many times, people go for training, but many times when it comes to behavioural change, coaching is what helps which provides a safe space for listening, observing without judging the person that is being coached. We all know a lot of things happening in Nigeria about leadership. We want our leaders to think differently, to embrace different ideas. Many times, some of their beliefs are entrenched in how they grew up, their perspectives and all that and it is coaching that can help them to think differently,” he said.

Ekong added that leaders would never embrace opinions of someone that is younger than them but with coaching, it helps those with this wrong notion to see that there is nothing wrong in learning from a younger person.

He reminded those leaders refusing coaching based on the fact that they have successfully built their businesses of the comment of one of the richest men in the world, Bill Gate that everyone needs a coach to think better, treat their staff differently, take their organisations from level to another.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu said the event was not just a celebration of coaching but also a recognition of the profound impact it has on individual organisations and the country.

“Many times, when we engage in coaching, we tend to think that we are trying to influence, impact or simply contributing to the life of the person we are coaching, and not realising that it sometimes has a wider effect in the task of building our state and our country.

“You have set a standard that is unique, far beyond our borders, inspiring many people to realise their dreams through the art of coaching. You have been instrumental in shaping the leaders and teams that are driving Nigeria’s growth and continue to do so,” he said.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Sam Egube, who represented the governor at the event, said he was happy to be one of the over 120 expertise professional coaches being celebrated.

Director of membership, ICF, Nigeria Charter Chapter, Charles Okeibunor, described ICF, Nigeria Chapter as the gold standard for executive coaching across the world which helps professionals and organisations effectively discover their potential, make the right decisions, develop critical thinking, analytical thinking and strategic thinking, adding that coaches help to drive solutions and drive potential.

“What ICF does is to train coaches with the capacity to deliver it within the confines of ethics. Since it is an unregulated industry, a person who is just very knowledgeable will be called a coach but the ICF seeks to train people through a model that creates safe peace for people to fulfill and achieve their potential.

“We make bold to say that we made a lot of impact on those we have coached with reflection in their businesses. What we do in coaching is not just to advise but to enable people discover themselves and deal with their situations and circumstances regardless of what these may be,” he said.

Okeibunor added that those who have come for coaching are now more resilient and stronger to face life challenges. He remarked that coaching contribute to national development in the areas of critical thinking, strategic thinking and analytical thinking before decisions are made.

Director of Education and Prudential Support, ICF, Nigeria Charter Chapter, Femi Odelusi, said what makes ICF, Nigeria Charter Chapter different from other similar bodies is the golden standard being set such as code of ethics, competencies, values and standards.

“In coaching, we help to uplift the community and make sure that coaching is well understood and thrives,” he said.

Partnership and Social Impact Director, ICF, Tosin Ibikunle said the celebration was that of impact of coaching in Nigeria to bring out the best out of those that have been coached.

“We have partnered with individuals, organisations, corporate organisations, non-government organisations.

“In ICF, Nigeria Charter Chapter, we have what we call executive coaches which include leaders, executives. We have team coaches who coach teams, groups, women, teenagers and all categories of life. We make impact in the life of people, organisations and those who run them and how Nigeria would be positioned to what it should be. We are celebrating ten years of impacting Nigeria and Nigerians as a whole,” he said.