An organisation, Segun Adeleye Foundation for Good Leadership in Africa (SAFFGLIA), set up to encourage governments across Africa to embrace good governance in order to uplift the standard of living of the people was launched at the Afe Babalola Hall of the University of Lagos on Thursday.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was guest speaker with a lecture titled “Setting Agenda for Good Leadership in Africa”.
Chairman of Bi-Courtney, Mr. Wale Babalakin, represented by Head Corporate Communication, Resort International, Molara Wood, chaired the event.
The three-in-one event also witnessed the launch of a book titled So Long Too Long Nigeria, authored by Founder of SAFFGLIA and President/CEO World Stage Limited, Segun Adeleye.
Alhaji Mohammed, who was represented by the Director, Lagos Operations, News Agency of Nigeria, Joe Bankole, described the birth of SAFFGLIA as the beginning of a new dawn for good leadership in Nigeria. According to him the Muhammadu Buhari administration is a representation of the values the Foundation stands for, adding that the government is proud to associate with the body.
The minister identified corruption as the biggest challenge facing African development. He noted that President Buhari is committed to fighting the menace in order to secure the future of the unborn generations.
“Leadership is about integrity and accountability and Nigerians have voted for President Buhari to change the face of leadership in Nigeria and transform the nation for the benefit of all, and Nigerians really need to give him time to enjoy the promised change,” the minister stated
While reviewing the book, Managing Director, Freedom Online, Gabriel Akinadewo, referenced articles written by Adeleye seven to eight years ago on infrastructural decadence, corruption, government policies, unemployment and sundry issues to mirror the state of the country.
While recommending the book to those in the public and private sectors, Mr Akinadewo said “the fact that majority of issues captured in the book are testimonies of present realities in the country today shows that Nigeria has not changed over the years”.
In his opening remarks titled “Africa: The Tragedy of Wrong History”, Mr Adeleye went down memory lane from the first Nigerian coup in January 15, 1966 to identify where things went wrong.
He pointed out how bad leadership had held Africa hostage for years, preventing the young generations from attaining their full potential.
He highlighted the visions of the foundation to include, to draw attention to activities of governments from local to national levels and encourage/ compel them to do things in the best interest of the people; it will engage in leadership training programmes that will champion the spirit of development of their societies in Nigeria and Africa; it will promote research into good leadership in Africa, among others”.
Senior Special Assistant to Osun State Governor, Dr Adeleke Ipaye, who represented Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the event, commended the author saying his crusade for positive leadership is in line with the agenda of the current leadership in Nigeria.
