The Member representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, Onfiok Luke has asserted that only those who will demonstrate deliberate leadership will be winners in the next phase of Nigeria’s economy, occasioned by the second recession.
Nigeria at the weekend slipped into a second recession in four years, following the announcement by the National Bureau of Statistics that the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recorded negative growth of 3.62 per cent in the third quarter of 2020.
Luke while speaking at the Leadership Masterclass Training he organized for Councilors in his Constituency in Abuja on Monday said the leadership required to tackle the economic woes that would come with recession transcends politics.
He explained that it is leadership to customers for those local lawmakers who will be going into businesses after their tenure elapses, leadership to their community leaders, and constituents by showing them how to shift to highly profitable new ways of working and engagement based on collaboration, integration, and transparency.
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The Chairman, House Committee on Federal Judiciary stated that the shocks and dislocation of the Global Financial Crisis are leading Nigerians and citizens of other countries into a post-COVID-19 world of radical change on all fronts.
He said: “Just three days ago, we were informed that we had just slid into our 2nd recession in just about 48months. These are indeed trying times for Nigeria, but overall, I believe the best of our years lie in our future.
“A future where the hope of our country will not be fed by the mineral resources buried under the ground but by the abundance of our human resources explored optimally”.
On the leadership training, the former Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly said: “During my electoral campaigning, I went around the wards which you represent in the legislature of the various Local Governments. I took cognizance of the important role all of you have to play in engaging with the people at the grassroots.
“It was for this purpose that I took it upon myself to offer an opportunity for a reorientation and mind education so that you can give back to your various communities what you have been impacted with.
“Today, this training is the manifestation of my earnest heart desire for these Honourable Councillors. It comes at a great cost for me, but I have taken satisfaction in the outcome and benefits available for you. I believe that you will emerge a better leader from this training.
“As the 11th Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, I initiated the very first legislative sponsored internship programme in this country called AKILIP( Akwa Ibom Legislative Internship Programme). This programme was designed to train young brilliant minds on the rudiments of legislative activities and provide them with the opportunity to be mentored in the act of lawmaking.
“AKILIP was an expansion in the scope and size of my privately sponsored legislative Internship programme(-The Onofiok Luke Legislative Internship Program-TOLLIP) which I initiated during my first term as a member of the state assembly. The successes recorded with those programmes were laudable. It is this same driving force that continues to propel me, today”.
While declaring opened, Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila represented by Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase urged other lawmakers to adopt the model championed by Luke to help build Nigeria by enhancing the capacity of legislators at the third tier of government.
“I want to thank you for the foresight in organizing this training. Part of the insecurity that we are having today is that the local government is not functioning very well. Our business here is good governance and the capacity I want to see in you people, you should translate it to a greater Nigeria”, he said.
