Exploring best approaches to effective leadership for Africa

Communique

This excerpt is taken from the longer communique about the AIDEN event in November 2011, compiled by Oliver Ngodo and the One Sky team in Calabar.

The African Integral Development Network (AIDEN), the very first Integral Leadership program developed in Africa, in collaboration with the University of Calabar, Nigeria, held its second international conference, with the theme, “Advancing into the 21^st century: Exploring best approaches to effective leadership for Africa”, from Wednesday, 16^th to Friday, 18^th November, 2011, at the conference hall of the Channel View Hotels, Calabar, Cross River State of Nigeria.

In attendance were 24, out of the 30 pioneer integral trainees who have just graduated from the 3-year training program on Integral Theory and Practice. Participants were also drawn from the University of Calabar, led by its Vice Chancellor, Professor James Ekpoke, as well as many academics from within and outside the University, some of who made paper presentations. Also in attendance were participants from OneSky – Canadian Institute of Sustainable Living, a Canadian international NGO based in Smithers, British Columbia, Canada, which operates a Nigerian office in Calabar, Cross River State of Nigeria. The delegation from OneSky – Canada, was led by its Executive Director, Mr. Michael James Simpson, while from the Nigerian office were Dr. Oliver Ngodo, the Nigerian Program Director, as well as Mr. David Cicerchi, its Program Officer.

The conference was equally attended by a delegation from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), both from their head office in Ottawa, Canada and the Nigeria Office in Abuja. The delegation from CIDA head office in Ottawa was led by Ms Tanya McGregor, while CIDA Nigeria office was led by the Head of Cooperation, Mr. David Ross. From the United States of America were participants, including Mr. Richard Cicerchi, President / CEO, Cicerchi Development Company, Cleveland Ohio, USA.

The conference, which was attended by over 400 persons, drew many participants from the civil society organizations and NGOs, community-based organizations, the Cross River Tourism Corporation, the private sector, farmers, forest communities’ representatives, as well as the media.

Technical Sessions

During the technical sessions, which lasted for two days, several research papers and case studies were presented and discussed by participants at different group levels, some of which ran concurrently. The case studies were presented by the graduating leaders from the Integral Leadership Program, while the research papers came mainly from the University of Calabar, University of Nigeria, University of Uyo, College of Education, Akamkpa and other research and professional establishments. The case studies that were presented are as follow:

• Integral Application to Sustainability in HIV/AIDS Prevention Programming – A Case Study of Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State of Nigeria by the HIV/AIDS Breakthrough Initiative Group.
• Integral Application to Sustainability in Forest Conservation Programming – A Case Study of Wula community in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State of Nigeria by the Save the Gorilla Breakthrough Initiative Group.
• Integral Application of Constituency Stakeholders’ Dialogue for Good Governance and Citizens’ Participation in Calabar Municipality – A Case Study of Calabar Municipality (Local Government Area) of Cross River State of Nigeria by the Good Governance and Human Rights Breakthrough Initiative Group.
• Integral Application to Sustainability in Youth Empowerment Programming – A Case Study of Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State of Nigeria by the Youth Empowerment Breakthrough Initiative Group.
• Integral Application to Sustainability in Climate Change Adaptation Programming – A Case Study of Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State of Nigeria by the Climate Change Adaptation Breakthrough Initiative Group.
• Integral Application to Sustainability in Women Empowerment Programming – A Case Study of Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State of Nigeria by the Women Empowerment Breakthrough Initiative Group.
• Integral Application to Sustainability in Widows Empowerment Programming – A Case Study of Okuni community in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State of Nigeria by the Widows Empowerment Breakthrough Initiative Group.

Five additional papers were presented under the Integral Application programming by graduating members of the Leading from Within program, and these were:

i.             Integral Life Practice by Lillian Oyama

ii.            Integral Application to Community Development by Etim Omini

iii.           Integral Application to the challenge of Climate Change Impact on different ecological and environmental resources by Jerry Akparawa

iv.           Integral Application to Leadership in Climate Change Challenge by Ugah Godwin Unimke

v.            Followership: A Key to Sustainable Development by Robert Umera

From the academic perspective, the following presentations were made and discussed:

i)             Values in Leadership by Dr Fan A Fan, Dr J. B. Bassey & Dr (Mgr) Emmanuel Umoetok

ii)            Succession and Leadership in Africa: The Crisis in Political Transition and Revolution in Libya by Asuquo Edet Ekpe

iii)           Perspectives on the meaning of Leadership by Dr Joseph B. Besong, Dr (Mrs.) M. I. Edu & Dr Fan A. Fan

iv)           Political Leadership and Economic Development in Africa and Asia: A comparison of Nigeria and Indonesia by Asuquo Edet Ekpe & Daasi Gibson L. K.

v)            Leadership and Development in Africa by Bassey Effiom Duke

vi)           Challenges of Leadership in a Globalised World by Dr Iyk Oji

vii)          Women and Leadership in the 21^st Century: Accessibility and Inaccessibility Factors by Dr Paulinus S. Ibok, Dr (Mrs.) Grace Essien, and Dr(Mrs.) Eka E. Maples

viii)         Youths and Leadership by Charles Rita Oluomachi

ix)           Values in Leadership by Bishop Victor Bassey

Observations

• From the various presentations – keynote addresses, research/academic papers, general presentations, as well as inputs from other participants, the following observations were made:
• Every leader has an action to take before becoming a leader, as leadership is about action, not position.
• Corruption in Nigeria, as well as most other African countries, is a product of corruption in individual households.
• Leadership goes beyond what any single individual can assume responsibility for.
• Everyone is both leader and follower in different contexts.
• Every individual is capable of bringing about changes in the society which must necessarily start from within the person.
• Nigerian youths should not copy the approach of our current leaders and that of the youths in the Arab nations (in terms of materialism and revolutionary traits).
• Leadership is about being a servant primarily and not being a boss.
• Selfishness, acquisitive tendencies, Egoism, Indiscipline, Inconsistency, power drunkenness and inability to evaluate oneself are some of the value orientations that work against effectiveness in leadership.
• Some of the value orientations that are conducive to effective leadership are servant’s attitude, selflessness, Humility, sense of responsibility, ability to see things from other people’s perspective and ability to look at things holistically.
• There is need for every individual within the society and, in particular, the enlightened members of the community such as academics, not to be passive when electing people into political offices.

Recommendations

• Women need to be mentored and their capacity built for greater involvement in all frontiers of knowledge and Governance.
• Integral leadership to be incorporated in Tertiary institutions’ curriculum as a diploma program.
• African, especially Nigerian, leaders should be trained and retrained on integral approach to leadership.
• There is need for every individual to identify and clarify their values – integrity, honesty, true service-oriented mind, etc., but not forgetting cultural values that are healthy.
• Every person who aspires to be a leader must have a vision and mission, set goals and strategies to achieve the vision.
• There is the need for continuous training, capacity building and awareness programs and, in particular, adopting the integral leadership approach.
• People should learn to plant trees and encourage children to join conservation clubs so as to protect the environment and reduce climate change impact.
• Our youths should look inwards more for self development and make good use of any available opportunities.

Opening Address

African Integral Development Network (AIDEN) in Advance to the 21^st Century with a New Approach to Effective Leadership for Africa.

By Etim Omini, President of AIDEN

Today, we hold the second AIDEN International Conference in Calabar. We consider this very significant because Calabar has always played the role of a birth place for many revolutionary social movements in history. For example, it was here that a revolutionary International Development Professional, Mary Slessor, in the 18^th century, started the great social movement that led to the abolition of stigmatization of twins, here which later spread to all parts of Africa, thereby saving millions of lives over the years.

 Today we are here launching yet another social revolutionary movement, which has the potential of transforming the entire African continent through a leadership approach that transforms the self and all, both within and without. This cutting edge approach is based on Integral Theory, which views reality from all perspectives, bringing together all breakthroughs of the classical studies, science and technology and the distilled wisdom of all religious studies of all ages. Solutions to human problems emerging from this kind of comprehensive analysis become balanced, accurate and sustainable.

 Leaders around the world are now fast embracing the Integral approach as a way of living; African Integral Development Network (AIDEN) is a pioneer in this revolution within the African continent. This conference is designed to introduce this cutting edge knowledge and application to intellectuals, professionals, leaders and the general public all around Africa.

 This conference is significant as it offers all the opportunity to share experiences and explore possibilities that will enable all to make significant contributions to the transformation of Africa. It will also advance Integral research, knowledge and application in the continent.   AIDEN implores all to contribute in the discussions as the outcomes will set a new thinking on leadership in Africa.

 The Conference is hosted by AIDEN in collaboration with the University of Calabar and supported by One Sky Canadian Institute of Sustainable Living, Canadian University Services Over Sea-Volunteering Services Over Sea (CUSO-VSO), Cross River State Tourism Bureau and the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM). More than 500 leaders from different sectors and professions from different countries have been invited to attend this conference. We express sincere welcome to all for participating in this epoch making conference.

 AIDEN emerged out of the work of One Sky’s project entitled “Leading From Within: Integral Application to Sustainable Living in the Niger Delta, Nigeria” which started in March 2009, with 30 leaders from the NGO sector in the Niger Delta. The program offered the participants the opportunity to transform themselves, develop their leadership capacities and conflict resolution skills for three years. As part of the program, participants used the new skills and ideas acquired to Execute Community Development projects in communities in Cross River State. This community development projects served as laboratories for participants to replicate their learning. It is these 30 participants that labored hard to give birth to AIDEN and formed the foundation membership. Now new members are joining rapidly and all are hereby invited to join. The birth of AIDEN is to promote the development of Integral Theory and Practice for the transformation of Africa. We are the first to embrace this approach in Africa and we are determined to achieve our vision.

AIDEN has an effective and efficient governance structure with a board of trustees and advisers, an elected Executive Council, Committees and Members.

 Our vision is a transformed, harmonious and sustainably developed African society. To realize this laudable vision our programs and projects target positive social change, human development, research, policy and analysis.  AIDEN strategically utilizes partnership, collaboration and participatory approaches driven and guided by the Integral approach. We therefore extend hand of fellowship to all organizations represented here.

AIDEN is a platform that provides mutual support for members’ professional development and advancement in their diverse field.  AIDEN membership is drawn from different disciplines and sectors but united by the Integral framework. The framework is transdiciplinary and its application advances sustainable solutions to all problems. In AIDEN we share a common vision and devoted to creating a cadre of dedicated and qualified leaders with the appropriate mindset and values that will bring about the transformation of Africa. We are ready to nurture the growth and development of second-tier oriented individuals and groups in all sectors, actively connected to the global integral movement to build synergy, and pull resources together to impact society.

 AIDEN is working to support and promote the establishment of an Integral Institute in Africa. We are using this opportunity to appeal to all stakeholders especially the Cross River State Government, University of Calabar, Nigeria Institute of Management and One Sky Canadian Institute of Sustainable living to come together and put strategies in place for the establishment of an Integral Institute which will be the first in Africa and second in the world, after the pioneer Integral Institute in Boulder Colorado, United States of America. On our part, we are willing to share our Leading From Within experience and we entreat all to join AIDEN.

Finally, I wish the conference a complete success and all the participants, our partners and friends, a good time in the paradise city, Calabar.

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