In a compelling address that blended academic insight with practical wisdom, Professor Lai Olurode, President of the Iwo Board of Trustees, delivered a powerful lecture on the dynamics of leadership and followership. The event took place at Baptist High School in Iwo on December 20, 2025, offering a timely reflection on Nigeria's governance challenges and pathways forward.
The Dual Nature of Leadership: Science and Art
Professor Olurode framed his discourse by exploring leadership's complex identity. He posited that leadership is a science because it depends on established principles, structures, and processes. Elements like consultation, discipline, transparency, and justice are non-negotiable for its sustainability. "Without these ingredients, pasturing or fertilising leadership is simply not feasible," he remarked, comparing leadership to a field requiring constant care.
Conversely, he argued leadership is also an art. Effective leaders must employ creativity, discretion, and sound judgment to navigate both ordinary and extraordinary situations. Sometimes, this demands bold, unconventional actions that prioritize community outcomes over rigid norms. "A leader needs to be a rebel in some settings," Olurode stated, highlighting the need for adaptability and emotional intelligence beyond textbook learning.
The Inseparable Bond with Followership
A central pillar of the lecture was the intrinsic link between those who lead and those who are led. Olurode described leadership and followership as "two sides of the same coin." He lamented that Nigeria's history has often been marked by visionless leadership and disengaged followership. However, he noted that when credible leaders emerge alongside critical and supportive citizens, transformative change becomes possible.
He challenged the audience to move beyond passive citizenship. A healthy society requires informed, engaged, and ethically conscious participants who both support institutions and hold leaders accountable. Governance, in his view, is a partnership, not a one-sided exercise of power.
Building Blocks for Effective Governance
Transitioning to practical strategies, Professor Olurode outlined key requirements for strengthening governance in Nigeria:
- Institutional Strength: Robust institutions provide the scaffolding for lasting achievements, ensuring continuity and accountability beyond any single leader's tenure.
- Ethical Consciousness: In a climate often dominated by greed, transparency and integrity are indispensable. Leaders must proactively publish financial reports and demonstrate honesty. "Money culture, trust, and integrity must never be trivialised," he asserted.
- Effective Communication: Free flow of information within institutions and to the public builds trust and enables collective problem-solving. In the digital age, leveraging platforms responsibly is crucial for dialogue.
- Preparation and Socialisation: Drawing from Yoruba traditions where prospective kings undergo rigorous training, Olurode suggested Nigeria needs structured frameworks—through education, mentorship, and civic training—to prepare leaders with the necessary knowledge and perspective.
Throughout his presentation, Olurode emphasized that service is the core essence of leadership. Leadership is not about personal gain or status but about resolving societal challenges and enhancing communal well-being. "Everyone lays claim to success, whereas failure is an orphan," he noted, urging leaders to approach office with reflection and humility.
He concluded by calling for a redefinition of success in leadership, arguing it should be measured by the systems and policies created for the common good, not by personal accolades. For Nigeria, his holistic framework—blending science and art, tradition and modernity—offers both a guide and a challenge for leaders and citizens to collectively build a more resilient and ethical governance system.
