Experts task African leaders on coaching for transformation

EXPERTS have tasked African leaders to adopt coaching skills, with a view to transforming the continent.

This came up at the 4th Africa Coaching Week ( ACW), hosted by Life Coaches Association of Nigeria ( LCAN), at the weekend, in Lagos. The theme was Coaching: Inspiring the Next Frontier for Africa’s Relevance’. At the event, certified Coach and Senior Pastor, Harvesters International Christian Centre, Bolaji Idowu; Director of Google in West Africa, Juliet Ehimuan; LCAN Chairman, Dr. Lanre Olusola ( The Catalyst), and Convener, The Platform Nigeria, Poju Oyemade, noted that leadership is about inspiring people to make impact.

Speaking on leadership as a tool for continental transformation, Idowu explained that a missing link in leadership is coaching, noting that many leaders are not selfaware and are surrounded by sycophants.

Using an onion for illustration, Idowu explained that the primary goal of a coach is unlocking potential, which will aid a leader to be more constructive after the potential is uncovered.

Stressing that great initiatives that do not affect human lives become useless, he urged the public to be more people- centric and understand leadership from a very humanistic approach.

He said: “The greatest fear of a leader is the fear he had when he was a follower. The leadership post only amplified it. You don’t find leaders; you grow leaders.”

Ehimuan said leadership starts with self, noting that capacity- building in oneself, having a clear vision, ability to inspire, motivate, build trust and mobilise people into action are required for effective leadership.

She noted that the kind of leadership needed in Africa is getting people to see possibilities where there is a lot of seeming impossibilities, and helping people to feel inspired to create their realities. Read the remaining part of this story on www. guardian. ng