UMUAHIA – The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, has charged participants of the Abia Leadership Academy Cohort 3 to embrace integrity, discipline, accountability and responsible stewardship as essential qualities for effective leadership and societal transformation.
Pastor Ajagba who gave the charge at Government College, Umuahia, while delivering a lecture titled “The Demands of Stewardship” at the ongoing Abia leadership Academy programme, explained that Africa is richly endowed with human and natural resources but continues to grapple with underdevelopment because of a deficit of quality leadership.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor while noting that responsible leadership begins with a transformed mindset, clear vision, diligence, good judgement, compassion and continuous personal growth, urged the participants to recognize that opportunities are entrusted to people who have demonstrated reliability and integrity, stressing the need for leaders to be willing to accept responsibility for their actions, acknowledge mistakes and remain accountable to those they serve.
He identified unfaithfulness, broken promises, lack of accountability, resistance to correction and shifting of blame as some of the signs of poor stewardship, warning that such traits can result in loss of trust, damaged reputation, missed opportunities and broken relationships.
Pastor Ajagba further urged the participants not to underrate one another as some of those in the class could eventually emerge as presidents, governors, ministers and other influential leaders, and encouraged them to add value to society by developing skills and qualities that will make them useful and dependable wherever they found themselves.
In their speeches, some of the participants including Rhema Appolos and Blossom Nwosu, appreciated Governor Alex Otti for the leadership training, describing the lecture as insightful and timely in preparing them for future responsibilities.
In a vote of thanks on behalf of the President of Abia Leadership Academy, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communication, Mr Dodoh Okafor, appreciated Governor Alex Otti for establishing the leadership academy and creating opportunities for young Abians to develop the knowledge, character and skills required for responsible leadership and also commended Pastor Ajagba for the depth of his lecture, urging the participants to apply the lessons learned beyond the classroom.
The lecture featured question and answer sessions.
