As Nigeria grapples with governance challenges, weak public communication and declining public trust in institutions, former Ogun State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry and Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Otunba Bimbola Ashiru, believes the country must return to the fundamentals of leadership: integrity, reputation and effective communication. In this interview with Sunday Ehigiator, the Convener of the Duke’s Masterclass speaks on why the initiative was conceived, why decision-makers must embrace global best practices, the importance of strategic crisis management, and why he believes ministers should do more to communicate government policies and achievements. Excerpts. You have worked in banking, government and investment management. How have those experiences shaped your leadership philosophy? My upbringing played a major role. My father always encouraged us to be confident. He told us never to feel intimidated by anyone, regardless of where we found ourselves. He also taught us that whatever we did, we should strive to create a niche for ourselves. Throughout my career, I have tried to live by those principles. Whether I was in banking, government or investment management, integrity remained my guiding principle. People who worked with me know that I believe in teamwork. I don’t believe leadership is about one person. You must consult people. You must carry people along. You must listen. No one has a monopoly on knowledge. Those principles have helped me throughout my career. What leadership qualities do you consider most important? Integrity comes first, then teamwork, consultation, humility. Leadership is not about building a personal empire or seeking public praise. It is about serving people. It is about creating value. When I was in government, I never made decisions based on personal interest. I always asked myself whether the decision would benefit the people. That approach earned me respect because people knew I wasn’t pursuing personal gain. Even today, many people I worked with still relate to me because relationships built on trust last beyond public office. You often refer to integrity as the foundation of leadership. Why? This is because without integrity, leadership eventually collapses. People may admire your intelligence. They may admire your energy. But if they cannot trust your character, those other qualities become meaningless. Integrity influences every decision you make. It determines how you treat people. It determines whether you keep your promises. It determines whether people are willing to follow you. Leadership is ultimately about trust. And trust is built on integrity. You have also spoken about declining values in society. Is that a major concern for you? Very much so. Nigeria needs to return to strong values. We need honesty. We need discipline. We need accountability. Corruption is not only about stealing money. It is also about abandoning ethical standards. When people stop doing the right thing simply because no one is watching, society begins to deteriorate. That is why value reorientation is so important. If you had the opportunity to advise President Bola Tinubu directly, what would you tell him? The first thing I would say is that his team must communicate more effectively. Government communication should not rest on the shoulders of the President alone. Every minister should become the face of his or her ministry. Every ministry should regularly explain what it is doing, the challenges it is facing and the progress it is making. People appreciate transparency. When citizens understand what the government is doing, they are more likely to support reforms, even when those reforms are difficult. Communication is not an optional responsibility; it is part of governance. The President has appointed capable people. Those people must also speak to Nigerians and carry them along. Today, information travels faster than ever before. Unfortunately, false information also travels very quickly. Social media has changed the communication landscape completely. Artificial Intelligence has made it even easier for people to create stories that are not true. That is why governments and organisations must become more proactive. If you fail to communicate, someone else will communicate for you. And once misinformation gains ground, correcting it becomes much more difficult. Communication has therefore become one of the most important responsibilities of leadership. Beyond communication, what other challenges should Nigerian leaders pay attention to? Leadership must become more responsive. People expect leaders to act quickly during difficult situations. Whether it is insecurity, economic hardship or any other crisis, citizens want to know that their leaders understand what they are going t
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