Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo says leaders must remain calm in the midst of adversity so that the people being led will follow in their footsteps.
He made this assertion on Friday at the 25th year anniversary conference of the Redeemer’s International Leadership Academy themed: Winning in Adversity, organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
A release from the Office of the Vice President said that Osinbajo stated that it is in times of adversity or difficulty that leaders are most relevant and most needed.
“The leader cannot afford to lose his cool or his focus. He must calm himself down and calm the people down as well.
“When all is well, there is no need for guidance, encouragement or instruction, but it is especially in the midst of wars, conflicts, insurgency, famines, danger, and fear that people look to leadership”, he said.
Referencing the story of Moses and the Israelites in the Bible, Prof Osinbajo noted that “Moses looked up to God for help and God spoke to Him. But note that Moses first gave the people confidence in the power of God to deliver and fulfil His promises.
“He had not yet heard from God on this particular problem, but because he knew the God he served, he was able to say this with confidence.”
In the virtual keynote address at the conference of the Redeemer’s International Leadership Academy, the VP stressed the need for leaders to remain unruffled because “in adversity, especially where the future looks bleak, people want to give up, retreat, go back and they certainly don’t want to go forward.”
Prof. Osinbajo, an alumnus of the academy, encouraged leaders, particularly Christian leaders, to act in faith and not fear when they are faced with crisis, especially existential crisis.
“God knows all things; we must obey in faith even when we are afraid. This is the burden of leadership, especially leadership according to the principles of scripture”, he added.
In attendance at the conference were Assistant Continental Overseer, Research and Development of the RCCG, Pastor A.A Bolarinwa, Intercontinental Overseer for Corporate Social Responsibility and Pastor in Charge, RCCG Region 20, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, and the Acting Rector RILA, Pastor Banky Ladele.
There were also business and secular speakers at the event including CEO/Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Mr. Kayode Pitan, Managing Partner, Sahel Consulting, Mrs Ndidi Nwuneli, Executive Director Fate Foundation, Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, and the CEO TY Farm Place, Mrs Oluwatoyin Asiru-Balogun,
Nneka Ukachukwu
