Senator Osita Izunaso warns of leadership decline in Nigeria, citing untrained office holders and urging deliberate leadership development

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Markets, Senator Osita Izunaso, has warned of what he described as a dangerous leadership decline in Nigeria, lamenting the growing presence of untrained and ill-prepared individuals occupying political offices across the country.

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Speaking in Abuja at the official launch of Leadership 365: Daily Reflection for Effective Leadership, a book authored by Dr Linus Okorie, President of the GOTNI Leadership Centre, Izunaso cautioned that leadership was increasingly being mistaken for mere occupancy of power.

The senator, who represents Imo West Senatorial District, said many Nigerians wrongly equate authority with leadership, stressing that holding public office does not automatically confer the discipline, conduct, or values required of a true leader.

“In this country, we do not train leaders. We simply assemble people and assume leadership will emerge,” Izunaso said.

He added that leaders must be conscious of their conduct because public behaviour shapes trust and credibility.

The lawmaker criticised the absence of deliberate leadership grooming in Nigeria’s political culture, arguing that individuals often assume positions of authority without the preparation needed to manage complex responsibilities. He described the situation as corrosive to governance and public confidence.

Izunaso also advised young Nigerians to reject the pursuit of quick wealth and instead seek role models defined by integrity and service rather than material success.

He warned that money should not be the primary motivation for leadership ambition.

In his remarks, Dr Linus Okorie emphasised that sustainable national development depends on intentional investment in leadership development rather than reliance on technology alone.

He said progress is driven by individuals of vision, courage, and skill who deliberately work to improve institutions and society.

Okorie noted that countries which have achieved lasting development did so by consciously grooming successive generations of leaders.

He described leadership capital as the most powerful asset any nation can cultivate.

The book, he said, was written to encourage daily reflection on leadership values and personal responsibility, particularly among individuals determined to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Concerns about leadership quality have long dominated Nigeria’s public discourse, with analysts pointing to weak institutional capacity, policy inconsistency, and a political culture that often rewards loyalty and wealth over competence.