Nigerian Professionals tasked on aligning goals with national interest

Nigerian Professionals in Engineering and Medical fields have been advised to align their goals to the greater good of the nation rather than limiting them to personal gains or narrow interests.

The advice was given by Dr Moshood Bello, Director of MBA, Keele business school UK, in a keynote address at the inaugural reunion event of the Lagos University Muslim Engineering Graduates Association (LASUMEGA) held during the weekend in Lagos.

The event was organised in conjunction with the Lagos State University College of Medicine Muslim Alumni (LMA).

It had in attendance professionals from Engineering and Medical fields who are alumnus of the Lagos State University, LASU and Lagos State University College of Medicine, LASUCOM.

Dr Bello said limiting their goals to personal gains or narrow interests will amount to nothing in the midst of the current sufferings in the country.

Speaking on the theme, “Strategic Leadership and Effective Collaboration for a Greater Nigeria,” Dr Bello noted that Strategic Leadership and Effective Collaboration are key principles that can enable the professionals make positive impacts in shaping Nigeria’s future, adding that it “required careful planning, risk assessment and adaptability.”

He also emphasised the importance of unity, cooperation and collaboration in the nation’s journey to progress.

While urging the professionals to prepare for the many challenges ahead, Dr Bello said they should contribute their skills to the development of Nigeria.

“You cannot achieve this alone. We must embrace the power of collaboration, and collaboration is about working together, leveraging our collective strengths and pooling our resources for a common purpose. It’s about breaking down barriers and building bridges of understanding,” he said.

The Guest Speaker, Mr. Sulaiman Aledeh, lamented that Nigeria is having problems because of bad leadership. He, therefore, called on the Muslim professionals to collaborate effectively for the good of the nation.

“What can we do differently as Muslim professionals? It’s not a rhetorical question but it’s a question that we must answer. How strategic can we be? What’s the place of collaboration in making Nigeria better? Doctors have the responsibility of saving lives. Engineers have the responsibility of building lasting structures that should outlive those lives. 

 “As Muslims we must identify our purpose and collaborate to improve Nigeria through leadership qualities. So, if I, as an engineer do a good job in the construction of the structures that bring ease to the people in whatever form, guess what, the doctor has less to worry, that’s collaboration,” he said.

In a Goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, who was represented at the event by Professor Shehu Akinola, said Alumni associations, means a lot for the University, adding that the institution was ready to partner with LASUMEGA-LMA.

She said the theme of the reunion was in line with LASU Management’s objective.

The high point of the reunion event was the presentation of awards to personalities as well as members of both bodies who had been outstanding in their commitments to the growth of LASUMEGA-LMA since inception.