Nigeria and Africa must invest in systems as well as human capacity development to grow their economies sustainably, experts say.
At a press conference in Lagos, Clara Okorie, co-founder of Pens and Dreams Limited, said it was important to focus on systems but more important to invest in personal capacities of the people on the continent.
Okorie said accelerated development of the African continent starts with personal growth and leadership skills.
She said as part of its contributions to the development of people’s leadership skills, Pens and Dreams in collaboration with National Orientation Agency and certified John Maxwell team coaches would conduct a personal growth and leadership between November 21 and 22.
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The summit, known as Discover, Achieve, Replicate, Enjoy (DARE), themed ‘Elevate Africa by becoming a person of influence’, is a two day personal growth and leadership certification programme.
Olusoji Oyawoye, one of the coaches, said the summit is aimed at raising a crop of selfless leaders who recognise that leadership is not a right, but a privilege, in Africa.
“We are trying to build servant leadership and the summit is riding on the John Maxwell Team DNA called ‘Value People’ because we believe there is a lot more we can achieve. So, hopefully, we would return our continent to the value we expect in our public and private lives as a nation, which are the values of honesty, decency and selfless leadership,” he said.
He added that Africa needs to be placed in the right footing, saying that the summit would raise the skill set and knowledge to impact leadership from the top to bottom.
Aminat Gbajabiamila, personal development and brand transportation coach, John Maxwell Team, said the summit is a mind-blowing initiative to develop human capacities to create value, maintaining that it is time to start speaking to Nigerians from the heart about principles of leadership.
“We are looking to help people understand self-love again. This is because we believe that if you love yourself, you will have the power to love other people and to carry others along. Doing this, you will have the selflessness to share knowledge, power and develop your audience. I am particularly committed to helping individuals understand that through the power of their personal growth and promoting their personal brands they can make an impact that would create ripple effects,” Gbajabiamila said.
The summit is expected to feature Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, amongst other influential keynote speakers.
Odinaka Anudu
