By Maharazu Abdulkadir
A popular Hausa adage says, ‘in kaji wane ba banza ba’, literally meaning a person’s popularity is a product of their hard work. There is no better way to listen to story than to hear it ‘from the horse’s mouth’. For the first time many of us would hear from Prof. Yusuf Adamu who as a Guest Speaker, humbly outpoured his life experiences.
The date was Thursday 4th August 2022 & the occasion was titled ‘Inspiring Leadership Reflection Interactive Series,ILERIS’. Aiming to groom young generation on practical experiences, it is a series leadership training programme, sponsored by the Centre for Information Technology & Development, CITAD.
Just like any other successful personality, the Professor’s journey to leadership is a mixture of good and not-so-easy stuffs. Imagine a child at tender age of 12 is taken to Koko & Zuru respectively, to school there (some 700km away from home). One would unrelentingly ponders on how such a child could fare well & acclimatize with an entirely new settings of terrain & culture. This goes contrary to what is obtainable nowadays where parents carve shortcuts to life of their children. But Prof,’s family encouraged and supported this newfound ‘adventure’. They most likely foresaw some promising leadership instincts in this young school pupil.
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Prof,’s submission at the gathering has shaped my perception of what leadership is. In ordinary public eye, ‘leaders are born’ & leadership qualities are ‘instinct’. However, Prof, argued that for someone to acquire required leadership qualities, they need to work ahead of what is expected. Thus, the definition of leadership according to him shouldn’t be reduced to which is inclined to politics but be made broad & simple. This is because ‘everyone is a leader in his own right’.
Perhaps, the Prof, better leadership well-doings are derived from intellectual arena. At a point, he likened his intellectual sojourns to a tripods settings. While each of his passionate discipline, ie ‘Geography, Hausa & General Knowledge represents a leg’, his persons sits at the top. In effects, anybody in similar situation can derive worthy inspiration from below. An ever ready counsel Prof, would offered people, at slightest opportunity is ‘read & read’ not only in oneself speciality but ‘widely’. ‘When you read a lot, you won’t easily be manipulated’, he told the August gathering.
A quality leadership is manifested in its achievements. But successful leaders find it difficult to give-in to ‘self a glorification’, as observed by a commentator in the event. On this note a request by another commentator was made for a follow-up talk so that the speaker can intensively discuss his experiences at various position he has held both local, national & international. A request which organizers seemed to have consented to.
By Maharazu Abdulkadir
Department of Geography
Federal University, Gusau
Zamfara State.
