What IsDB/MBSC Jeddah Training Taught Me About the Kind of Leaders Nigeria Needs

The Strategic Business Leadership Programme in Jeddah, jointly organized by the Islamic Development Bank Institute and Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College of Business & Entrepreneurship, taught me that leadership begins with self-awareness and personal growth. While Nigeria has numerous leadership conferences and seminars, the programme emphasized the importance of examining the human being behind the leader.

I learned that geography may change the context of leadership, but universal human questions remain. Professor Muhammad Azam Roomi's session highlighted the importance of self-awareness, emotional regulation, relationships, and understanding how our behavior affects others. This was an uncomfortable yet enlightening experience, as it forced us to examine parts of ourselves we had not consciously stopped to explore.

Organizational politics might seem synonymous with manipulation, but in reality, every organization has competing interests, informal networks, influence, and power dynamics. The real challenge lies in understanding these dynamics without losing one's values. Leaders who navigate these dynamics ethically can avoid becoming victims or perpetrators of political manipulation.

The concept of the Secure Base emphasized the importance of psychological safety, confidence, and encouragement in fostering personal growth. In Nigerian workplaces, employees often lack the confidence to speak up about issues, which inhibits innovation and progress. A good leader should create an environment that empowers individuals to take risks, experiment, fail, learn, and try again.

Finally, the program challenged traditional strategies, reminding us that strategy alone is meaningless without execution. Leaders must connect with people through stories, meaning, and purpose, as well as demonstrate leadership through action. While Nigeria has a young and ambitious population, organizations often prioritize hierarchy over initiative, wasting human potential.

I left the programme with a renewed understanding that before we can lead organizations, institutions, or countries, we must first learn to lead ourselves.