The President of the International Coaching Federation Nigeria Chapter, Charles Okeibunor, alongside industry leaders and government officials, has advocated for influence-based leadership as a more effective model than authority-driven leadership. They emphasized that coaching is a critical tool for national growth, corporate transformation, and effective governance.
Conference Highlights
Speaking at the opening of the International Coaching Week in Lagos, themed “From Authority to Influence: Coaching as a New Leadership Currency,” Okeibunor stated that coaching remains central to decision-making, strategic thinking, and leadership development in organizations and government institutions. The event attracted chairmen of companies, chief executive officers, senior executives, government officials, and aspiring professional coaches from various sectors of the economy.
According to Okeibunor, the conference, which is taking place simultaneously across 140 countries and 99 chapters worldwide, was designed to deepen awareness of the importance of coaching and professional standards in leadership development. He noted that coaching promotes influence rather than authority as the ideal model for effective leadership in modern organizations.
“Today, we are here for a conference that ushers us into coaching week to set standards for both training and accreditation of professional coaches across the world. Coaching is germane to decision-making, problem-solving, and strategic thinking,” he said. He added that leaders in both public and private sectors require coaching support to function effectively, especially when occupying positions of authority and influence. He urged organizations to deliberately allocate time for coaching as part of staff capability development, stressing that professional coaching should enjoy the same level of attention given to training programs.
Keynote Address and Other Remarks
Former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and Chairman of African Capital Alliance, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, who delivered the keynote address, described influence as one of the strongest elements of leadership. He explained that coaching focuses on listening to people, drawing out their strengths, and helping them attain their full potential. Enelamah recalled that during his time in government, efforts to improve the economy through ease of doing business policies were anchored on listening to stakeholders and addressing their concerns.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the President on Finance and Economy, Sanyade Okoli, said coaching helps individuals maximize their abilities by encouraging critical thinking rather than the imposition of authority. The Chief Executive Officer of Amplitude Telecoms Africa Ltd., Michael Ikpoki, stressed that influence-based leadership is essential for building innovative organizations capable of driving economic growth.
