Reimagine Nigeria, Lead Without Titles, Adeleye Urges Redeemer’s Varsity Graduates

By Tosin Olasunkanmi, Osogbo

Graduates of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, have been urged to embrace leadership, innovation and nation-building as interconnected responsibilities capable of transforming Nigeria and strengthening its institutions.

The call was made by the Chief Executive Officer of A’s Consulting, Omoba Erinle Adeola Adeleye, while delivering the university’s convocation lecture titled, “Reimagining Nigeria: Leadership, Innovation and the Future of Nation Building,” on Wednesday.

Adeleye, who was represented at the lecture by Biodun Ekebafe, Partner at A’s Consulting, said leadership without innovation would merely preserve existing systems, while innovation without leadership could leave promising ideas without the direction and support required to create meaningful impact.

He said the combination of leadership and innovation must ultimately be directed towards strengthening society rather than pursuing personal success alone.

«“Leadership without innovation is just management. It keeps existing systems running, sometimes efficiently, but it never asks whether the system itself deserves to survive in its current form.”»

According to him, innovation without leadership could amount to invention without impact, noting that many brilliant ideas in Nigeria had remained trapped in university research projects, unfunded pilot schemes and prototypes because their creators lacked the leadership needed to develop and scale them.

Adeleye urged the graduates to reject what he described as the “excuse of smallness”, stressing that individual actions could contribute significantly to rebuilding institutions and transforming society.

«“Every institution that has ever collapsed, collapsed one small, individually-justified compromise at a time. Every institution that has ever been rebuilt, was rebuilt the same way — one person, refusing the small excuse, at a time.”»

He challenged the graduates to measure their ambitions against global standards rather than limiting themselves to comparisons with classmates and immediate peers.

The A’s Consulting CEO also advised the graduates to remain teachable even after achieving professional success, warning against complacency and urging them to deliberately build relationships with people who would challenge them to grow.

He said, “Choose your circle with the same rigour you chose your course of study,” stressing that the quality of the people around them could influence their personal and professional development.

Adeleye further urged the graduates to make conscious decisions about their relationship with Nigeria, whether they chose to remain in the country or pursue opportunities abroad.

He said he would not pressure anyone to stay in Nigeria or leave, but insisted that every graduate should consciously determine how they intended to contribute to the country’s future.

«“Undecided, drifting Nigerians, wherever they are geographically located, are precisely the citizens a struggling nation can least afford. Decided ones, wherever they are geographically located, are exactly what it needs.”»

He cautioned the graduates against cynicism, describing it as an easy response that required little beyond criticism, while reimagining Nigeria demanded courage, sacrifice and sustained commitment.

According to him, although the graduates did not choose the Nigeria into which they were born, they had a responsibility to influence the country they would eventually leave behind.

He therefore urged them to take up leadership responsibilities without waiting for titles, pursue innovation without waiting for permission and contribute to national development without waiting for invitations.

«“Go and reimagine it. Lead without waiting for a title. Innovate without waiting for permission. Build a nation without waiting for an invitation.”»

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Professor Shadrach Olufemi Akindele, said the lecture was coming at a time when Nigerians needed innovative thinking to address the numerous challenges confronting the country.

Akindele said the academia had an important responsibility to generate ideas and solutions capable of contributing to national development, urging the graduating students to pay close attention to the lecture.

«“As citizens of this country, we have a lot to do, regardless of the challenges confronting the nation. Those of us in the academia have been saddled with the responsibility of thinking innovatively to bring about solutions to the myriad of challenges facing the nation.”»

He added, “I am therefore confident that today’s lecture will challenge us and provide valuable perspectives, particularly for our graduating students, as they prepare to contribute meaningfully to the development of Nigeria.”

The Vice-Chancellor described Adeleye as an experienced entrepreneur and leader, urging the graduating class to draw lessons from his experience as they embark on the next phase of their lives.