Professor Wumi Adetan on "Empowering Students for Impact"

We are elated to share Professor Wumi Adetan's Speech at the just Concluded PAAF Leadership Conference for Secondary School Prefects from select schools in Ekiti. We hope you learn from this rich resource on leadership.

Ignite: Empowering Students for Impact

Introduction

Keys to Becoming a Leader

Leadership is about service. Leadership is basically influence. A leader is someone who is showing examples for others to follow.

Most of the people we call leaders are really not leaders. (Nigeria a case study and by extension some of the African countries)

The truth is if you don't know what a leader is supposed to be like, you won't be able to identify true leaders. True leadership. Note the Word TRUE.

Here are few issues to note about true leadership based on some of the findings gotten through the ministry of Dr Myles Munroe and Personal studies:

1.True leadership is not all about control but service

2. It is not about power, it is about empowerment.  "That person empowered me", "That person made me great"...that is the true leader.

3. It is not about manipulation, it is about inspiration. Inspiring people is the highest form of true leadership. True leaders don't manipulate.

 4. It is not really about people. It is about purpose. It is not about finding people to follow you but discovering a purpose that you commit to pursue. It is more of pursuing purpose and not just seeking people to follow you. It is natural for people to follow you when you have a purpose or clear goal to pursue. People  willingly buy into your purpose and follow you.

5. It is about more about becoming than doing. A true leader is more about the person becoming what they discovered and thereby inspiring others.

6. It is not exerting powers or authority by bulling your followers and subordinates.

7. It is not making your subordinates, your junior students slaves, but to serve them.

8. It is not turning stones to bread (temptation of Jesus Christ and Satan). Even though Jesus has the power and authority to do so. You are not to extort your junior ones and subordinates.

9. It is not turning the followers to rebels.

10. True leadership is a mentor-mentee relationship. You must have people in your life that you mentor. It is mentorship,  impacting lives.

As a leader,

• Be examples to them to see your character.
• Let them see you. 
• Be visible to them
• Spend time with them
• Listen to their questions/concerns/ideas
• Be open and engage them in discussion on matter they care about.

Motivating your followers

* Set clear goals

* Communicate effectively.  Communication is a 2-way approach

* live by examples

* Aim at impacting lives

* Be focused

* Be disciplined, diligent and dedicated (3D)

* Be a person of integrity

* Be accountable

* Above all, Fear God.

Conclusion

For you to be a true leader, you must know God. When you know God and fear Him you will want to serve wholeheartedly.

Jesus Christ came as a servant, laid his life for us. He served his disciples washing their feet.

John 15:5

" I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing".

For without me you can do nothing. For you to impact lives,  you need Christ.

- Professor Wumi Adetan