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Voice of Emancipation: Lessons from Nehemiah (Pt. 3)
…Lessons for Leadership
By Kayode Emola
In this week’s article, continuing with our theme of Lessons from Nehemiah, I would like to consider what the account has to say to us about leadership. This is relevant, not only for those of us who might find ourselves in positions of leadership in the future, but also for those of us who will be _under_ those in positions of leadership: it is important to know what to expect of our leaders so that we may hold them to account.
It is also worth considering that, while most of us will never ascend to the heights of becoming President or a government minister, many of us hold leadership roles within our day-to-day lives. Do you have people under you at your place of work? Congratulations, you are a leader. Are you a parent? Then you’re also a leader of your children. Are you a doctor, lawyer, accountant, engineer, pharmacist, teacher, or undertake any kind of job where people rely on you for your expertise? Then you need to be able to lead them along the path that you are suggesting for them. The principles learned here, therefore, would also be readily applicable to the vast majority of us.
The first principle is that of delegation. A leader cannot, and should not, do everything themselves. Firstly, a leader will not possess all of the skills required to do every job. I take an example from the medical world: in a critical trauma situation, you may need a surgeon, a paediatrician, an anaesthetist. Each of these have particular skills that the other lacks. The surgeon cannot anaesthetise someone, just as the paediatrician cannot perform life-saving surgery. But co-ordinating all of them is the trauma team leader. The trauma team leader, usually a casualty doctor, is likely not to have the level of skill of operating that the surgeon does, nor know the correct doses of medicine to give a child like the paediatrician does, nor have the same degree of prowess with anaesthetic medications that the anaesthetist does. They do not assume the position of ‘trauma team leader’ because they are the best in all these fields. Rather, their job is to keep an overview of everything that is going on, to allow the specialists to focus solely on their own area of expertise. The team leader maintains awareness of all the tasks that need performing, and ensures that each of these is delegated to the person most suitably skilled for doing so.
This leads us to the second reason that delegation is an important leadership characteristic: a leader is required to maintain oversight of the project as a whole. This is impossible if the leader becomes too focused on a single task or aspect of the undertaking. If Nehemiah had become too concerned with ensuring that the mortar was the correct composition and consistency, he might have missed the enemies who were assembling to attack the labourers. He needed to keep his eyes on the big picture.
Finally, if a leader does not delegate, and attempts to undertake too great a portion of the task alone, they will tire, and ultimately burn out. Resultantly, they will be less effective – in fact, they will have gone from being an asset to being an extra burden, as the workers will then have to be looking after the leader and performing the leadership role, as well as addressing their own tasks.
When a leader is delegating, they need to consider the means by which they do so. As previously alluded to, they need to ensure that tasks are given to the most appropriate people to undertake them. They also need to ensure that they communicate this clearly. Failure to do so can cause confusion, stress, demoralisation and demotivation amongst the workforce, as it is unclear what is expected or required of them. Consider the context of being a parent to a young child: if you hand your child a pencil and tell them do spend time drawing/writing, but fail to specify on what or monitor their activities, then if you find that they have written on the wall and shout at them for doing so, they will become confused and upset. In their mind, they were doing what they were told – so why now are they being rebuked for it?
As suggested already, the person in a position of leadership is not necessarily there because they are the best at everything, and so there should be no assumption of superiority. We know very well that this is often not the case in our current situation, where our leaders take the cream for themselves and leave only the dregs for everyone below. If confronted about this, there would often be an attitude of, “I deserve this because I hold [xyz] position.”
Nehemiah was entitled to a portion of food as a member of the governors. But in order that he did not place extra burden on his people, he did not take it. Governors who had preceded him had taken that which was their due and more besides. A leader is put in place to serve the best interests of those in their care; they should take heed that they do so, and face repercussions if they do not. If we turn a blind eye to the immoral actions of leaders, then they will continue to perpetuate such corruption. If they are held to account – and know that they will be so – then a higher quality of leadership will be cultivated.
Not only should our leaders be held to account for the morality of their own actions, but any leader desiring to be considered worthy of the position must take responsibility for the wellbeing of their people. Therefore, if their people are suffering, it is their duty to take action to alleviate it; and if they fail to do so, they must be called to explain why they have not.
As important as meeting the physical needs of the people in their care, a leader must cultivate an environment that engenders good emotional health as well. When the Israelites were grieved, the Levites calmed their distress and spoke words of encouragement to them. A happy workforce is a productive workforce; and a contented community is a cohesive one.
When the leaders started to allow compromise in their standards, Nehemiah did not simply overlook it, with an attitude of, “it’s only a minor thing, so I’ll let them get away with it.” He called them to account for the small transgressions to prevent them escalating into large ones. A small patch of mildew on the wall may only take seconds to clean. But if you ignore it because it is only minor, you will very soon find that is has spread and consumed your entire wall. Now, instead of a simple cleaning job to remedy the situation, you find yourself having to replace the whole wall. So it is with moral compromise. If you permit minor crimes to pass unpunished, then major ones will soon follow. We must hold our leaders to account for the small things, so that we know they can be trusted with the big ones.
At the heart of the failings of Nigeria as a country lies the failings of her leaders to lead well. We must not allow this same rot to spread within our Yoruba communities and nation. Each one of us must be vigilant about maintaining standards, both in our personal lives and any sphere of leadership within which we find ourselves, but also in those appointed to lead us. We must hold our leaders to account, and be humble enough to be held to account ourselves when trusted with leadership positions. In so doing, we will be able to build a new society, a tomorrow that is free of the plague of corruption and consequent national dereliction which so devastatingly afflicts us today.
Special Credit: Dr. Bethan Emola
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Police Affairs, Mr. James Sule, has retired from service after 35 years of meritorious service to the nation, according to a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations Unit, Mr. Bolaji Kazeem, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
The Permanent Secretary however, charged the directorate cadre to mentor officers in the service for effective service delivery to the citizens, as a parting advice.
He made the charge during the send-forth ceremony organized on his behalf by the Ministry staff at the Headquarters of the Ministry in Abuja.
The retired Permanent Secretary said that everything starts and ends with leadership and the need to uphold the organization’s rules and regulations without considering people’s feelings.
“We are all leaders just like I said, don’t just think the president, vice president, and governors are only leaders. What can you do in your community to impact positively on others? What are you doing to mentor the younger ones so that whatever corner you find yourself in, whether you are a union leader, whether you are an assistant director or you are a principal officer, you do your best to be fair, accountable, and transparent in your activities?
He used the opportunity to thank the management and staff of the Ministry for their support and for working with him as a team to ensure the success of the ministry.
According to James, “Indeed, it was a privilege to work alongside a talented and committed team. Together we have achieved a lot, and I am proud of knowing you and we have accomplished it while we were here although it was short, I also want to thank you for your kind words. I thank my personal staff that’s brought so much to the nation-building,” he said.
In his response, the Director charged with the Permanent Secretary Office, Mr. Yusuf Abubakar Argungu, stated that the staff has learned so much from the retired Permanent Secretary noting that the friendship and mentorship have just begun and not the end of it, just the beginning of it.
“It is the perfect time to reflect on the invaluable lessons, experiences, and memories you have shared with us and to experience our heartfelt appreciation. Retirement isn’t the end of an era but the beginning of a new chapter in life. We are wishing you a retirement filled with exciting journeys. Congratulations,” he said.
Warri was agog with excitement on Thursday as the Board Chairman of Delta State Security Trust Fund, Mr. Daniel Mayuku, became the first winner of the much coveted Toyota Prado in Globacom’s Festival of Joy promotion.
Mr Mayuku was presented the keys to the prized asset at a ceremony held by the company on Thursday, November 21, at Gloworld, Delta Mall, Warri, by the Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, and the Chairman of Uvwie Local Government Area, Chief Anthony Ofoni. Friends, admirers and other Glo subscribers joined in the celebration which turned into a carnival in the city with electrifying performances by Ema Dance Troupe.
An overjoyed Mayuku declared: “When I received the first call that I won a Prado in Glo Festival of Joy promo, I believed it was a scam and I immediately told the caller not to call me again. However, after few minutes, I started receiving calls from friends and I decided to call my friends in Glo and they confirmed it. I was in disbelief; I thought it was a scam. I jokingly asked for the car immediately and I was told to come to Glo office for verification and today the jeep has just been presented to me. Globacom is truly Nigerian, a network that delights its subscribers every year. They are still the best.
Other lucky winners also went home with tricycles (Keke), power generating sets, sewing machines and grinding machines. Ovueve Efejiro, a native of Ughelli, who won Keke, said, ”I just won Keke through Festival of Joy promo, I am very grateful to Glo. This Keke will help my family. My brother will use it for commercial purpose immediately”, while a generator winner Felix Gabriel thanked Globacom for always remembering Nigerians every year in its annual promos.
Speaking at the presentation, Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly Hon. Emomotimi Guwor who was the special guest, said “Globacom is a network that is known for giving. Over the years, many Nigerians have been empowered by Glo. The people of my constituency in Warri South West and entire Delta people are grateful to Glo. We will continue to use Glo and I also want to be part of the winners one day soon. So, I will ensure that my line is always on and ready. Kudos to Glo and our own Dr. Mike Adenuga. Please keep on empowering Nigerians.
Similarly, the Head of licensing and operation, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Delta State office, Mrs Anwuli Efejuku, commended Globacom for the transparent nature of the promo. She said, “We witnessed the raffle draw few days ago here in Warri where it was conducted in the presence of everyone and today the winners that emerged have been presented their prizes. Congratulations to all the winners.
To participate in the Festival of Joy promo, new and existing subscribers should dial *611# to opt into the promo and to keep recharging. He added that new subscribers can participate immediately by purchasing a new SIM, registering it and dialing *611#.
“Customers are required to recharge up to N100, 000 cumulatively during the promo period to qualify for the draw for the Prado Jeep, N50, 000 cumulative recharge for Kia Picanto, N10, 000 in a month for tricycle and N5, 000 total recharge in a month to win a generator. For the sewing machine, a total recharge of N2, 500 in a month is required, while for grinding machine, a recharge of N500 in a day will be eligible for the draw. New subscribers can participate immediately by purchasing a new SIM, registering it and dialing *611#, Globacom explained.
Guests at the event included representative of Urhobo community in Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Hon. Karo Goru Jonathan; Chairman Uvwie Local Government Area, Delta State, Chief Anthony Ofoni; representative of National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Delta State office, Mrs Anwuli Efejuku; representatives of the Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Chief Okieneni and Chief Emmanuel Eyela; President of of Igbudu Market Association, Warri, Chief Rume Kugberu and Nollywood actors, Ese Eriata and comedians Gordons and M.C. Forever.
The next prize-presentation exercise comes up in Lagos, where another set of Nigerians will go home with different prizes including another brand new Toyota Prado, Kia Picanto car, Keke and others.
The Special Offences Court sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos State, on Monday, remanded a former branch manager of Polaris Bank, Abiodun Sanni, at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre for alleged multi-million naira fraud.
Sanni was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 16-count charge bordering on obtaining credit by false pretences, forgery, use of false documents, and stealing.
The EFCC counsel, Orhieoghene Adewunmi, told the court that Sanni committed the offences at the Iju branch of the bank in Lagos on February 24, 2020.
The lawyer stated that the defendant, as the branch manager of Polaris Bank, obtained from the bank a credit sum of N17 million in form of a loan.
He said Sanni collected the loan on the pretext that the loan had collateral in the form of a fixed deposit worth N111.1 million, which belonged to one Yinkus Multi-biz Ventures.
The EFCC lawyer also alleged that the former bank manager dishonestly converted a Polaris Bank fixed deposit account worth N15.1 million, belonging to one Joshua Atolagbe, to his personal use.
According to Adewunmi, the alleged offences contravene Sections 36(1), 278(1), 313(1)(a), 361 (1) and 364 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Sanni, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts preferred against him.
Adewunmi urged the court to remand the defendant.
“My lord the prosecution intends to call 10 witnesses in this case. We urge the court to remand the defendant in custody in view of his not-guilty plea,” the EFCC lawyer said.
The defence counsel, Osho Oludoshu, told the court that he had filed a bail application.
The presiding judge, Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, thereafter, remanded Sanni at the custodial centre.
Justice Abike-Fadipe adjourned the case to March 6, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
