Yemi Kosoko in Jos
The Director‑General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Ayo Omotayo, has urged senior public officers and security personnel to place national interest above personal or sectional considerations, warning that Nigeria’s progress hinges on leaders who embody integrity and ethical conviction.
Speaking at the National Values and Leadership Course (Batch 7) in Kuru, Jos organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in partnership with Tomruk iHub Multiverse and DAFUDA. Omotayo, represented by Prof. Musa Umar, said Nigeria was at a defining moment where “the character of its leaders, not infrastructure or policy alone, will determine the country’s direction.”
He stressed that leadership must be rooted in values, not titles. “Nigeria needs leaders who rise above ethnic suspicion, reject impunity and see public office as a platform for solving problems,” he said, calling for value‑based performance systems across institutions.
Omotayo urged participants to develop organisational “values action plans” tied to integrity, unity, excellence, inclusivity and environmental care, backed by quarterly reviews and mentorship structures.
He described national transformation as “a long journey requiring patience, determination and the courage to confront one’s limitations.”
Omotayo argued that Nigeria’s challenge was not a lack of talent but a failure, at critical moments, to uphold shared values.
“Leadership is not a title that confers influence but influence that confers direction,” he said.
Earlier, NOA’s representative, David Akoji, warned that leadership devoid of values breeds impunity and weakens public trust. He said national values were practical tools for strengthening institutions and fostering unity.
He described national values as “practical instruments for nation‑building,” warning that: “Leadership without values breeds impunity. Authority without accountability weakens trust. Power without patriotism undermines national cohesion.”
Akoji outlined the course’s objectives: reaffirming Nigeria’s foundational values, strengthening value‑based leadership across MDAs and the security sector, and promoting integrity, discipline, transparency and service above self all anchored on the National Values Charter’s five pillars.
The course also featured a session led by Job Mwadkon Dachungyang, CEO of Tomruk iHub Multiverse, who urged participants to align potential with purpose. “You are the match. The fire is your potential,” he said, emphasising that vision is expressed in present action, not distant aspiration.
The programme drew participants from ministries, departments, agencies and paramilitary organisations.