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Zero to Impact: The Leadership Mindset That Transforms Executive Management (Pt. 2)
By Tolulope A. Adegoke PhD
“Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles, and less than perfect conditions. So what? Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident, and more and more successful” – Mark Victor Hansen
Have you ever felt like you’re starting from nothing? That you’ve got dreams but no resources, skills but no platform, ideas but no audience? You’re not alone. And here’s the good news: zero is not the end—it’s the beginning. In fact, some of the world’s most transformative leaders began at what seemed like zero. This second series explores how understanding and harnessing the power of “zero” can unlock your true leadership potential either for individual, corporates, nation-building or for generational impact.
Zero as Untapped Potential
Potential is not what you’re doing; it’s what you’re capable of doing. It’s the energy lying dormant within, waiting to be activated. Like a lion raised among sheep in Dr. Myles Munroe’s famous story, many of us have greatness within—we just need the right perspective to awaken it.
Leadership begins with self-awareness. Before leading others, you must first lead yourself. This starts by reflecting deeply: What drives you? What do you value? What legacy do you wish to leave? Look in the mirror of purpose and see who you really are. You are not an accident; you are potential in motion, crafted for impact.
Zero as a Seed of Greatness
Seeds look insignificant, but they contain forests. Every idea, talent, or dream you carry is a seed. Jesus used the mustard seed as a metaphor for powerful growth—tiny in form, yet enormous in potential.
The early stages of your journey may seem unimpressive to others—or even to yourself. But remember, the value of a seed is not in its size, but in what it is destined to become. Plant your vision, nurture it with discipline, water it with commitment, and protect it from doubt. The fruits may not appear overnight, but in due season, they will manifest in abundance.
Leadership is about believing in your unseen future and taking intentional steps toward it, no matter how small.
Zero as Latent Talent
Talent is divine equipment for earthly impact. But unused talent is like a buried treasure—valuable, yet invisible. The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25) teaches us to multiply what we’ve been given—not hide it out of fear.
Your leadership impact grows when you:
- Discover your unique gifts, no matter how subtle they seem.
- Understand their intended purpose and potential.
- Develop them through practice, feedback, and learning.
- Deploy them through service to a cause bigger than yourself.
- Dedicate them to divine purpose—acknowledging God as the Giver.
The world doesn’t just need more talent; it needs more developed, directed, and dedicated talent. That’s how legacies are forged.
Zero as a Hidden Game-Changer
Sometimes, the overlooked become the overachievers. Eder, Portugal’s unlikely substitute striker in the Euro 2016 final, wasn’t expected to score—yet he became the unexpected hero. Likewise, David, the youngest son and a mere shepherd, toppled the mighty Goliath when trained soldiers stood back.
Leadership is not always about who is most visible—it’s about who’s most prepared. In the shadows, develop yourself. In quiet seasons, strengthen your skills. So when your opportunity comes, you’ll not only show up—you’ll stand out.
Do not discount yourself based on what others see. What matters is what God and you know is within.
Zero as a Weakness to Be Managed
Not all zeroes are positive. Sometimes, zero represents a weakness, flaw, or character issue that must be addressed. Many great leaders fell not because of external battles, but due to un-mastered internal struggles.
Moses’ unrestrained anger cost him entry into the Promised Land. Samson’s lust blinded him—literally and spiritually. Judas’ greed led to betrayal. These cautionary tales remind us: what we fail to manage in private can sabotage us in public.
Your leadership must be built on integrity and self-awareness. Weakness doesn’t disqualify you—but ignoring it might. Seek accountability, practice humility, and grow in character. True strength comes not from perfection, but from progress.
Zero as a Nation Reborn
Nations, like individuals, can rise from zero. After World War II, Japan lay in ruins—its economy shattered, cities flattened. But through visionary leadership, national discipline, and a collective will to rebuild, Japan transformed into one of the world’s leading economies within decades.
The turning point? Investment in human capital—education, innovation, and values-driven governance.
Nations like Nigeria, endowed with abundant resources, must learn that people—not oil—are the real assets. When a government empowers its citizens, fosters innovation, and rewards excellence, transformation becomes inevitable. We don’t just need structural reform—we need a shift in mindset.
Reassurance: Your Turnaround Is Possible
Change is not a fantasy—it’s a process. D.W. Ghent, once terrified of public speaking, became an exceptional orator through courage and training. David, dismissed by his family, rose to become a king. Your current limitations are not permanent.
You can rise. You will rise. But it starts with belief. You are not too late, too flawed, too small, or too far behind. You are filled with potential, purpose, and possibility.
Let today be your turning point. Begin where you are, with what you have. Step forward with boldness and faith. The journey from zero to impact begins with a single decision: to try.
So what’s next? Stay with us as we continue unpacking practical strategies and mindsets to help you lead with transformational influence.
Let’s go from zero to impact—together.
Dr. Tolulope A. Adegoke, AMBP-UN is a Recipient of the Nigerian Role Models Award (2024), and a Distinguished Ambassador For World Peace (AMBP-UN).
Residents of Faruruwa community in Shanono LGA of Kano State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Defence to set up a military formation in their area.
The Chairman of the community, Yahaya Umar Bagobiri stated this in an interview with Daily Sun, insisting that the community was still under threat of attacks by the bandits.
He remarked that the bandits had been sending text messages to the villagers to the effect that they would soon attack the area in revenge for the losses they suffered during a recent fight with the Joint Task Force.
“They are preparing everyday to return to our community. What they are telling us is that they are coming, that we should be ready and we told them that we are ready, that our soldiers are ready and they would meet them there when they come,” he said.
Bagobiri admitted that additional security personnel have been deployed to their community in recent times, but regretted that in view of the gravity of the threats, the number of soldiers on ground may not be enough to discourage the bandits from attacking them. He argued that only five days ago, the same bandits or their allies still found a way to the community and kidnapped nine victims, for which they were demanding for a ransom of N25 million.
“The solders on the ground are not enough, even the GOC Kaduna, was there a few days ago to see things for himself and he saw that we needed more soldiers to be stationed there” he stated.
On what might be attracting the bandits to the community, he explained that the area is a border town to Katsina State, in addition to the fact that there is the presence of a river in the area, which encourages the breeding of large numbers of cows around that axis.
He added that the bandits were initially attracted to the axis because of the cows that they steal, but added that in the recent years, they have resorted to abduction for money and killing of the members of the community and its environs.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a notorious drug kingpin, Yussuf Abayomi Azeez, at Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.
The agency, in a statement signed on Sunday by its spokesperson Femi Babafemi, said the 40-year-old suspect was apprehended on Thursday, November 6, 2025, while attempting to board a flight to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.
Azeez’s arrest followed months of intelligence gathering and surveillance by a special NDLEA operations unit.
The suspect, who previously fled the United Kingdom after jumping bail for drug-related offences, had returned to Nigeria to establish a massive clandestine laboratory for producing synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Colorado, in Lekki, Lagos.
At about 6:30 a.m., NDLEA officers intercepted Azeez at the airport departure hall and immediately took him into custody.
He was later taken to his hideout at 17 Vincent Eku Street, Ogombo, Lekki, where a fully operational illicit drug production facility was uncovered. Another suspect, Abideen Kekere-Ekun, 43, was also arrested at the site.
Inside the building, operatives from the Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring (DFCM) dismantled laboratory equipment, precursor chemicals, and finished products, totaling 148.3 kilograms.
The agency described this as one of the largest synthetic drug seizures in recent years.
In a separate operation on Friday, November 7, NDLEA, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, recovered 105.5 kg of “Molly” and 500 grams of methamphetamine at the Sifax bonded terminal in Okota, Lagos.
The contraband was concealed for local distribution.
Significant interceptions were also made in other states. In Niger State, operatives seized 87,000 pills of tramadol and 72 kg of skunk cannabis from a Volvo truck driven by Ibrahim Mohammed, 35.
In Taraba State, Aliyu Samaila, 25, was arrested transporting 34,520 tramadol capsules in a Toyota Corolla, reportedly destined for Cameroon. Another suspect, Felix Tanko Chinedu, 28, was apprehended with 15,020 tramadol capsules in Ardo Kola Local Government Area.
In Kogi State, NDLEA seized 7.6 kg of “Loud,” a potent cannabis strain, on the Okene–Lokoja highway. A follow-up operation in Abuja led to the arrest of Chukwunonso Anieze, 40, the owner of the consignment. Additionally, 175,000 pills of opioids were recovered from another shipment the same day.
At the Abuja–Kaduna tollgate, three suspects — Olayide Oyidiran, 39; Abdulsalam Abdulsalam, 28; and Opeyemi Tijjani, 39 — were caught transporting 769 kg of skunk from Lagos to Kano via Owo, Ondo State, highlighting the agency’s crackdown on inter-state trafficking networks.
In Edo State, a 73-year-old man, James Ugbedo, was caught tending a cannabis plantation at Igbeshi Forest, Imiakebo, Etsako East LGA. About 1,459.75 kg of cannabis was destroyed, and 5.6 kg was recovered for evidence.
In Bayelsa State, a 70-year-old woman, Comfort Odudu, was arrested in Onopa, Yenagoa, with 5 kg of skunk.
The NDLEA’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) initiative continued nationwide, with sensitization campaigns targeting students, communities, and transport unions.
Beneficiaries included Transfiguration Seminary Secondary School in Abakaliki, Immanuel College High School in Ibadan, Government Girls Secondary School in Ilelah, and NURTW members in Birnin Kebbi.
Commending his officers, NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) praised the successful dismantling of the Lekki lab and other operations.
He described the actions as part of a sustained national offensive against drug cartels preying on vulnerable citizens.
“The dismantling of yet another clandestine laboratory for Colorado and other dangerous substances, and the arrest of the kingpin behind it in Lekki, barely a week after a similar operation in Ajao Estate, shows our commitment to dismantling these cartels. The NDLEA, supported by local and international partners, will continue to hunt these merchants of death and bring them to justice,” Marwa said.
By Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD
“In the face of complex crises, true leadership is measured not by the clarity of one’s critique, but by the courage to enact responsible solutions that bridge the gap between sovereign duty and our global responsibility to protect” – Tolulope A. Adegoke, PhD
If you follow global news, you have likely encountered alarming headlines about Nigeria. Terms like “religious violence” and even “genocide” are often used to describe a complex and devastating crisis. But beyond the headlines lies a critical international dilemma: when a state struggles to protect its own people, what is the world’s responsibility?
This is not a new question. It lies at the heart of a global principle adopted after the horrors of Rwanda and Srebrenica (Town in Bosnia and Herzegovina): The Responsibility to Protect (R2P).
Let us break down what R2P means, why it is so relevant in Nigeria, and what proposed international responses—like those from the United States—reveal about the difficult pursuit of peace in a complicated world.
R2P in a Nutshell: A Three-Pillar Promise
Imagine R2P as a three-legged stool, with each leg representing a fundamental obligation:
- Pillar I: The State’s Primary Duty. Every sovereign nation has the foremost responsibility to shield its populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.
- Pillar II: International Assistance. The global community has a duty to assist states in building this protective capacity through aid, training, and diplomatic support.
- Pillar III: The Decisive Response. If a state is “manifestly failing” to protect its people, the international community must respond decisively—first through peaceful means like sanctions and diplomacy, and only as an absolute last resort, with authorized military force.
The protracted crisis in Nigeria tests this very framework to its limits.
The Nigerian Labyrinth: It’s More Complex Than It Seems
Labeling the situation in Nigeria as a simple religious war is a profound misunderstanding. The reality is a tangled web of several overlapping conflicts:
- Jihadist Insurgency: Groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP in the Northeast target both Muslims and Christians who oppose their rule. However, Christian communities have endured specific, brutal attacks on churches and schools, marking them for violence based on their faith.
- Clashing Livelihoods: In the fertile Middle Belt, competition over dwindling land and water resources has ignited violent clashes between predominantly Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers. Climate change and desertification have intensified this struggle, layering economic desperation over religious and ethnic identities.
- Criminal Banditry: Widespread kidnappings and violence in the Northwest, often driven by profit, exploit the fragile security situation, further destabilizing the region.
This intricate complexity is why the term “Christian genocide” is so hotly debated. While there is undeniable, systematic violence against Christians, the legal definition of genocide requires proof of a specific intent to destroy the group. Many analysts point to the confluence of political, economic, and criminal motives, arguing that the situation, while atrocious, may not meet this strict legal threshold.
The R2P Test: Is Nigeria “Manifestly Failing”?
A widespread perception holds that the Nigerian government is failing in its Pillar I responsibility. Despite possessing a powerful military, issues of corruption, a slow institutional response, and allegations of bias have left millions of citizens vulnerable.
This failure activates the world’s role under Pillar II. The United States, United Kingdom, and other partners have provided significant aid, military training, and intelligence sharing. Yet, it has not been enough. The persistent violence pushes the necessary conversation toward the more difficult Pillar III: the “Responsibility to Respond.”
The U.S. Proposition: A Case Study in Coercive Care
What does a “timely and decisive response” entail? Proposed U.S. actions offer a clear case study. Focusing on coercive measures short of force, they include:
- Targeted Sanctions: Visa bans and asset freezes against specific Nigerian officials accused of corruption or atrocities.
- Diplomatic Pressure: Officially designating Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” for religious freedom.
- Conditioned Aid: Linking further military assistance to verifiable improvements in human rights and accountability.
The Pros and Cons: A Balanced View
- The Upside: These actions send a powerful message of solidarity to victims, potentially deter perpetrators, and uphold the global norm that national sovereignty entails a responsibility to protect, not a license for atrocity.
- The Downside: These measures are fiercely rejected by the Nigerian government and many within the country as a violation of sovereignty. There is a risk that cutting military aid could weaken the fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP, and a narrow focus on the religious dimension could oversimplify the conflict’s root causes, potentially inflaming tensions further.
Key Takeaways for a Global Audience
This situation is not merely a problem for politicians; it offers critical lessons for all of us:
- For Global Citizens: Seek nuanced understanding. Effective advocacy requires moving beyond simplistic labels to grasp the underlying root causes—such as climate change, governance failures, and economic despair—that fuel the violence.
- For Businesses Operating Abroad: You have a vital role to play. Conduct human rights due diligence and use your economic influence to support stability, conflict resolution, and ethical practices within your operations and supply chains.
- For the International Community: This case exposes R2P’s greatest weakness: its reliance on a UN Security Council often paralyzed by geopolitics. The future demands more robust and empowered regional leadership from bodies like the African Union.
Conclusion: An Unfinished Conversation for Lasting Peace
The crisis in Nigeria and the proposed international responses are not about easy answers. They represent the difficult, ongoing work of making the promise of “Never Again” a tangible reality.
R2P remains an unfulfilled ideal, caught between the urgent need to protect human life and the complex realities of national sovereignty. The conversation it forces is itself a constructive step forward. It challenges Nigeria to reclaim its primary duty to protect all its citizens, challenges the world to move beyond rhetoric to meaningful action, and challenges us all to remember that our common humanity is the most important border we share. The demand for peace, both within Nigeria and beyond, requires nothing less than our collective and unwavering commitment.
Dr. Tolulope A. Adegoke, AMBP-UN is a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in History and International Studies, Fellow Certified Management Consultant & Specialist, Fellow Certified Human Resource Management Professional, a Recipient of the Nigerian Role Models Award (2024), and a Distinguished Ambassador For World Peace (AMBP-UN). He has also gained inclusion in the prestigious compendium, “Nigeria @65: Leaders of Distinction”.
