46 bags distinguish fellow award, 20 doctorate

By Kingsley Chukwuka

The Institute of Leadership Manpower and Management Development (ILMMD), at the weekend in Abuja awarded 46 distinguished Nigerians with honorary conferment of distinguished Diamond Fellows, while 20 persons got the Doctoral Fellow conferment of the Institute.

The Investiture qualified the awardees as Patrons of the Institute, the Director of Manship Services who officiated the ceremony, Dr. Theophilus Cornerstone Okonofua, said.

Delivering his lecture, Okonofua explained that leadership is trustworthy, charismatic and visionary, adding that leaders must be obsessed with goals.

“They must challenge assumptions, behave as a role model, walk the talk, and empower their people”, he said.

While educating the awardees on the vital ingredients of a leader, Okonofua asked the following questions “what do we know about the reality of leadership today. What must leaders believe or know in order to influence others and create change?”.

He brought another dimension to crisis, explaining it as a positive change in leadership qualities.

According to him: “A particular frame of mind accompanied by a key set of behaviour is the key to leading under pressure. Developing a mindset for reflecting, adapting and learning from the crisis situation and its aftermath is at the core of crisis leadership.

“Leaders tend to focus on the negative aspects of crisis, however, it is important to remember that crises are opportunities for organizational change and revitalization. A crisis can bring to attention issues that have been neglected as well as present possibilities for innovation improvements”, he said.

Our correspondent however reports that the said award is the highest professional and national recognition in the institute (ILMMD), bestowed on personalities, members and non members, whose noticeable contributions to society in view of development deserves a mention.