Leadership failures responsible for poor development in Nigeria, Africa – Olaopa
Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Professor Tunji Olaopa has pinpointed the failures of leadership as the primary reason Nigeria and other African nations trail behind the so-called Asian Tigers, the UAE, and Japan.
He stated this recently in an address at the South-South States’ BRACED Commission Strategy Retreat, held in the Edo state capital of Benin City.
Speaking on the retreat’s theme, “Leadership in the Public Sector: Strengthening Public Institutions through Capacity Building,” Olaopa drew a stark comparison between African countries and their more developed counterparts in Asia and Europe.
He particularly praised Rwanda and Botswana for their developmental strides within Africa.
“Whether we reference the Mo Ibrahim Awards or Global Governance Rankings, it is evident that these countries employ strategies that Nigeria’s leadership must learn from,” Olaopa stated.
He emphasized that these high-performing nations have embraced evidence-based, technical approaches to governance, avoiding the political entanglements that often hamper policy work in Nigeria.
Olaopa’s lecture, titled “Strategic Leadership in Civil/Public Service: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Prospects,” dissected the strategic leadership models that propelled countries like Japan, Malaysia, and Botswana to success.
He highlighted Japan’s post-WWII transformation, driven by quality control principles and strategic economic planning, as a benchmark for Nigeria.
The astute Professor argued that the critical factor in sustainable development is leadership-led transformation supported by disciplined policy execution and change management.
“Leadership in the context of a developmental state involves a network of leaders across various levels, fostering institutional capability and effective governance,” he explained.
Olaopa also called for a new generation of public managers in Nigeria—self-motivated, competent, and intellectually courageous—to drive paradigm-shifting changes.
He urged public servants to focus on staff morale, strategic communication, decision-making, and inter-departmental relations to enhance government efficiency.
Advocating for public-private partnerships (PPPs) to optimize public sector economies of scale, he emphasized the need for civil servants to understand market dynamics and business co-creation.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s history, Olaopa cited the Awolowo-Adebo leadership model as an exemplary case of effective political-administrative synergy.
He highlighted how the civil service under their leadership upheld public service values and promoted a collaborative work culture.
In conclusion, Olaopa stressed that public service leaders must facilitate change within a model that emphasizes group leadership over individual heroism.
This approach, he argued, was crucial for achieving the kind of rapid development seen in Japan and Singapore.
