Details

APRIL 16 2016 CENTRE LSD LECTURE AND GRADUATION

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Abuja in collaboration with African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development organized an annual leadership lecture for 2016 at Ajuji Greenwich Hotel, Gudu, Abuja on April 16, 2016.

This year’s leadership lecture marks the 7th graduation of the Centre-LSD Leadership School, and admission of students for the next academic session.

The essence of the leadership school is to fill the void created by leadership in Africa and especially in Nigeria, and the institute and KAS believe that by working with forces of positive change, the society can be transformed through appropriate leadership, strategy and development approaches.

This year’s lecture was chaired by the renowned former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) resident electoral Commissioner in Cross River and Edo States, Barr. Mike Igini. He commended the organizers of the leadership lecture for making it possible to address the issue of gender balance, going by the number of women amongst the graduating students, and in accordance with the theme of the lecture.

The current minister of Solid Mineral, Dr. Kayode Fayemi , sent a goodwill message in which he noted that leadership should not be equated with position, title or office. A leader is rather somebody who can lead without being in a position, office or holding a title.

In her paper titled ‘Women, Leadership and Societal Development’, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, spouse of the Minister of Solid Minerals, started with a dichotomy in her analysis of gender, where PATRICK and PARTRICIA are patriarchal and FREDERICK and FREDERICA work for the freedom and emancipation of womenfolk in the society. She also mention efforts being made in Africa to promote gender equality and women empowerment such as Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which many African nations have signed, Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) , and many others.

She however sounded a note of warning to the participants to be wary of religious leaders who interpret the Holy Scriptures to suit their motives, as most of them cannot reconcile the place of women in homes and society in general, because they read and interpret verses in isolation instead of in context.

In attendance were 146 persons among whom were new students, graduating students, faculty members, staff of Centre-LSD and pressmen.

So far 481 students have graduated from this leadership school since inception, and have become leaders.

Resource Persons: Barr. Mike Igini (former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) resident electoral Commissioner in Cross River and Edo States); Dr. Otive Igbuzor; Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, spouse of the current Minister of Solid Minerals; Dr. (Mrs.) Ejiro Igbuzor