‘Leadership bane of development’

By Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie

Former Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank of Nigeria Sir Oluremi Omotoso has identified leadership, as the greatest obstacle to Nigeria’s development.

Omotoso was the guest lecturer at the 15th Annual Adekunle Kukoyi Memorial Lecture organised by the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, NIS, Lagos State Branch, with the topic: Nigeria: Hills and valleys to cross to sustainable greatness.

According to him, a great nation must  uphold the rule of law, its senior citizens, provide security, basic physical infrastructure without discrimination.  It must also provide access to qualitative education and improve the quality of lives of the people, he added.

Omotoso said Nigeria has abundant resources but that corruption, nepotism, lack of commitment to qualitative education by political leaders had continued to stunt the growth.

He called on political leaders to imbibe the virtues of the late Adekunle Kukoyi and be dedicated to the growth and development of the nation, saying that quality leadership would determine the quality of life of its people.

Also,  Chairman, Lagos State Branch of the institution, Adesina Adeleke said the  lecture was an opportunity to gain a deep understanding of why Nigeria had not yet attained the much-desired greatness.

Nigerian Institutionof Surveyors (NIS) President Charles Alabo said  for Nigeria to get the desired change, it  must return to civic education teaching.