ILCS induction: Leadership must be built on trust, integrity, service, say Abati, Akande, others

Veteran journalist and former presidential spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati, and former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Onikepo Akande, on Friday urged leaders to build influence through trust, integrity and service rather than titles to address growing global instability.

They made the call at the 3rd induction ceremony of new members of the Institute of Leadership, Coaching and Strategy (ILCS) in Lagos, where Abati delivered a keynote address titled “Leading with Influence in an Unstable World.”

Abati said instability had become the defining feature of the 21st century, making uncertainty permanent and increasing society’s demand for leaders capable of providing clarity, direction and hope.

He distinguished authority from influence, saying many people occupied positions of power without necessarily commanding public trust or commitment.

“Authority can be conferred by appointment. Influence must be earned. Authority comes from position. Influence comes from credibility. Authority can compel obedience. Influence inspires commitment. Authority may force compliance. Influence wins trust,” he said.

According to him, people naturally gravitated toward trusted individuals during crises because leadership was about responsibility and purpose rather than power.

“People do not follow titles when they are afraid. They follow those they trust… Leadership should never be viewed as an ornament. It is a calling. Influence begins not with position but with purpose,” he said.

Abati described leadership as requiring courage, humility and sound judgment, adding that teachers, parents, journalists, entrepreneurs and community leaders also exercised transformational leadership.

He warned that while the digital revolution had made visibility easier, credibility had become increasingly difficult to establish and sustain.

“Many people confuse visibility with influence. They are not the same thing. Influence is not measured by volume. It is measured by impact… Credibility remains the most important currency of leadership,” he said.

Abati urged emerging leaders to pursue credibility instead of popularity, saying trust had become one of the world’s rarest commodities because people judged leaders by whether their actions matched their words.

“The future will belong not necessarily to the loudest voices but to the most trusted voices… The true test of leadership is how one responds when the world becomes unstable,” he said.

He urged leaders to become sources of confidence, reason and renewal rather than victims of disruption, adding that the challenge was compounded by leadership failures across Africa.

Speaking, Akande said the theme reflected present realities characterised by economic disruptions, political shifts, security challenges, technological changes and global crises.

She urged leaders across all sectors to embrace influence-based leadership to effectively navigate uncertainty and drive national development.

“Leadership is no longer about title or position. It is about influence… Influence is the currency of leadership. It is earned through integrity, sustained by credibility and multiplied through service,” she said.

Akande urged leaders, coaches and strategists to shape positive narratives instead of merely reacting to crises.

“Your responsibility is not merely to react to instability but to shape the narrative, provide clarity amidst confusion and empower others to rise above challenges. A leader must inspire before he or she expires,” she said.

She challenged the newly inducted members to uphold professionalism, ethical conduct, transparency and selfless service.

“This ceremony is more than a celebration. It is a call to action… You are becoming part of a movement that believes leadership is about impact, not titles; about service, not self-interest; about vision, not vanity,” she said.

Akande commended ILCS for promoting responsible leadership, good governance, research, advocacy and capacity building, and urged the inductees to help raise leadership standards for present and future generations.

In his remarks, ILCS President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Olasunkade Azeez, said the institute, registered on Dec. 1, 2023, was established to promote responsible and disciplined leadership through research, advocacy, capacity building and strategic interventions.

He said the induction theme was apt considering the leadership challenges confronting Nigeria and Africa despite their abundant human and material resources.

“We have no business with poverty if we get our leadership right. We must work for a better and prosperous Nigeria with equity and fairness,” Azeez said.

He described the induction ceremony as the institute’s flagship event and reaffirmed its commitment to producing genuine leaders.

Also speaking, the Head of the ILCS Media Team, Barrister Jide Ologun, told newsmen that Nigeria urgently needed transformational leaders to improve the fortunes of citizens and unborn generations.

Responding on behalf of the inductees, Mrs Mojisola Ademola-Phillips applauded the institute and pledged members’ commitment to upholding its vision, mission and core values.

The new members were inducted into the Fellow, Full Member and Associate categories of the institute.

Some inductees participated physically, while others were admitted virtually following presentation by the ILCS Membership Experience Committee led by Dr Wole Odubayo.