Dear Leader,
I trust this meets you in pursuit of wisdom.
Last Saturday, we had 40+ young leaders in a room discussing leadership and redefining leadership. But there is something you need to know about this journey.
Since I was an undergraduate, I have always believed in goal setting. I always had my goals and plans for every semester and I dare say, every year, since I was in 100 level (2010).
But this year was quite a different one.
This year, I submitted my goals and plans to someone. At the beginning of the year, my pastor instructed us that we should all write out and submit our goals and plans for the year. It was the first time any pastor ever asked me about such. For as long as I could remember, pastors are more concerned about your spiritual growth and seeing that you attend all services, but Revd. Nathan Ikenria (RNI) is a different breed.
One of the things I wrote and submitted to him, as my goals and plans for 2025 was hosting a Leadership Roundtable for student leaders across universities.
To give you a context;
For over 13 years, I have enjoyed the privilege of serving as a TRUSTED ADVISOR to leaders. Since my days as a student on campus, I have had the privilege of working and supporting young people to achieve their goals. Leaders easily find me trustworthy to advise them and I have genuinely invested in their success, helping them shape decisions and directions. Some of them in their academics, some of them while running for offices on campus and others in their careers after graduation.
This year, I felt a sense to make it a mission – to activate a new generation of leaders for Africa. I realised that the concept of leadership was losing its essence and young people were running for offices without understanding the meaning of leadership. I also observed that the Student Union Government across higher institutions is a prototype of Nigeria’s political environment. I believe if we nip the problem in the bud, perhaps we have hope as a country.
This is the motive behind the Early Stage Leaders Roundtable. The goal is to bring together young leaders – students and aspiring leaders on campus into a roundtable, to redefine leadership.
First at the University of Delta, Agbor last weekend, then to other campuses in the coming months.
But
The Leaders Roundtable would have been aborted or postponed till further, if I had not written and submitted it to RNI. I had valid reasons. This year, I had spent a lot of money on other things (especially my wedding), it was looking like a valid reason to move anything worthwhile about my goals and plans to 2026. But the accountability system insisted, and the Early Leaders Roundtable happened.
Here is the lesson:
Amongst many things I have learnt about leadership, Leadership is stepping out!
When every other person has an excuse to sit back, leaders have a reason to step out.
Amongst many other definitions for courage, here is mine: Courage is the acknowledgement that something is more important than fear – fulfilment.
With the feedback received from all the participants over the weekend, fulfilment cannot really be explained with words but experienced. The weekend was one.
Like I said to participants on Saturday, many young people run away from leadership because of fear, criticism, shame, failure. But it’s the reason why 200 million people are led by 0.1% of that population.
It’s not because they are intelligent. Leadership is stepping out.
Stepping out from frustration to make change happen.
Stepping out of complaining to take responsibility.
Stepping out of talking to doing.
Stepping of criticism to solving.
We can all make that positive impact we desire, if we can just step out.
It is the reason I wrote Ready, Set, LEAD.
In August, I was invited to speak at an event in Warri and I answered a lot of questions about leadership from students who were interested in leadership and felt a call to lead. When I got home during my quiet time, I felt the need to put all of those thoughts and answers into an eBook.
What have you been postponing because of fear, shame, criticism or failure?
This week, let this be a sign. GO AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
You’ve talked too much about it.
Just tell ONE person who can hold you accountable and insist on you till you DO IT.
Fulfilment comes from DOING not TALKING.
Ready? Set? LEAD
Meanwhile, you can download the free eBook here in case you missed it.
Do have a GREAT week!
I am rooting for you,
The Great Owete