The Vice Chancellor of University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah and the president and chairman, Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, have charged new inductees of the Abuja Leadership Centre (ALC) to find solution to the leadership crisis in Nigeria.
They gave the charge yesterday in Abuja during the third induction ceremony of postgraduate students of Public Governance and Leadership Programme of the centre.
The ALC instituted at the University of Abuja is a TETFund Centre of Excellence in Public Governance and Leadership which seeks to enhance public governance and leadership across Nigeria and beyond.
Na’Allah said the university was making a difference for Nigeria’s leadership issues, public governance issues, and urged the inductees to focus on bringing something new for Nigeria.
“You are admitted to Abuja leadership center so that you be the leaders that will change the fortune for Nigeria.
“You are not admitted here as a decoration, you are here very importantly, to take up the challenge and help this nation and stand up as members of Abuja leadership center saying yes, we know our problems is leadership, we are the leaders and we will change it.
“We want you from now on to be counted wherever you are as part of the solution to the leadership problem in Nigeria. Practice the theories you are bringing together and let the whole world know that the reason you are different is also because you are a member of the center,” he said.
He also charged them not to get involved in any form of corruption but stand against things that damage the image of the country.
Also speaking in the capacity of a keynote speaker, Neliaku urged the inductees to build new Nigerians that will build new a Nigeria.
He said; “We must promote inclusive governance in Africa. When we talk of inclusivity our minds go to women and youths. That’s not all we have in the society. We have those who today are called people with disabilities they’re also human beings. We need to bring them in.”
Earlier, the director of the centre, Prof. Phillip Afaha said the Abuja Leadership Centre was wet up as one of the TETFund Centers of Excellence some three years ago and the essence was to promote, develop, research and training in Leadership.