El-Rufai, Utomi Urge Youths To Imbibe Good Leadership Traits
By Sunday Orisakwe and Tosin Oyedepo
THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai has challenged the nation's youths not to ask for what is their right but to take it.
He made this declaration in a paper he presented during the week in Lagos at the inaugural Dinner held by the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL). The minister was represented by his special assistant, Amina Saliu.
El-Rufai said: "Don't ask for rights. Take them. And don't let any one give them to you. A right that is handed to you for nothing has something the matter with it."
On leadership, the minister said leadership is inspiring oneself to inspire others.
"A person is a leader not necessarily because he or she possesses power or the ability to coerce others into doing what they would not necessarily do, but because that person can inspire or motivate others to see a vision they never though possible," he said.
According to him, a leader must be able to model the way and challenge a process, to show that things must not be business as usual.
"A leader is not concerned about being popular or being liked but being respected. A leader must espouse the values of transparency, accountability and service," the minister added.
In his own address, the founder of CVL Professor Pat Utomi said the people have not really understood leadership.
According to him, those who must be first should aim to be the least because the value is being able to sacrifice for one's neighbour.
Utomi advised that youths should not wait till they are at the top before exercising leadership but should strive to affect the space right in their surroundings.
He urged youths to cultivate the spirit of contentment so that they would not accumulate what they may never need because what they need is to live a simple life.
Speaking to The Guardian Mr. Chris Aligbe, one of the guests at the occasion said the present generation of parents have failed the youths.
He noted that during his youth days, his own parents gave good examples of how to live well and discipline lives.
"So, if the youths are now interested in becoming good leaders through the Centre for Values in Leadership programme, then parents must help them to achieve it," he said.
He expressed belief that CVL stands as a good avenue for youths to become good leaders of tomorrow. "We must encourage these youths because they are going to lead us tomorrow whether we like it or not" he added.
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