By Ishaya Ibrahim
Abiodun Fijabi, a U.S.-based Nigerian leadership coach and chief executive officer of Lord Princely Associates, a public speaking and training firm, has offered some vital leadership lessons to students of the Obafemi Awolowo University.
Fijabi presented those leadership insights during a two-day evangelistic tour of the university by a Nigerian born U.S. based physician and pastor, David Tarkon between May 17 and 18.
During the tour, Dr Tarkon who is the presiding pastor of the City of David Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Atlanta, Georgia, donated drugs to the university health facility and held a revival crusade.
The leadership session, held at the parish of the Evangelical Christian Union (ECU) in OAU, had two sessions – Organisation, shaping societal culture and becoming an effective leader.
Fijabi said leaders are scarce, using attendance of the programme as a case study in comparison to other programmes.
READ ALSO: How people become ‘lawful captives,’ U.S.-based Nigerian Pastor Joe Tarkon explains at OAU crusade
Hear him: “You probably wanted the entire place to be filled with people. It doesn’t work well when it comes to leadership issues. That makes it more urgent for us to address those salient points.
“If I asked you now that I’m so anointed that I raised 20 dead people in the last month, won’t this hall be filled within a little short time? Unfortunately, those who raised the dead are not going to raise the organisations that will bring the change we all need in order to live a godly and righteous life and to be able to sustain the values that we hold dear.”
Fijabi also stressed the place of organisation in delivering the right environment for people to thrive and the leadership requirement to run it.
He said: “What do we mean by an organization? And why do we need Christians to have the skills to run an organization? The Bible says one shall chase a thousand, and two shall put 10,000 to flight. So, there is a multiplier effect when you have more than one person.
“A tree does not make a forest, it has been said. And you better believe that because that is the truth. We are here so that we can build the capacity to influence the society with the fire of change.
“Prayer alone does not shape cultures. Anointing alone does not shape cultures. You’ve got to be the leader that will bring people together to help you achieve that.
“A friend of mine, we had a heated debate, he said ‘I don’t care how much a loaf of bread is as long as I can afford it.’ And I said sir, I disagree with you. I am not just interested in what I can afford and the ability to be able to afford it, I take cognizance of the fact that I live in a society and I have responsibility to that society so that the vast majority of people will be able to afford a loaf of bread.”
He quoted the Bible in Proverb 24:3-4 (TLB) to make the case for an effective organisation.
The passage says: “Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts.”
Dr Tarkon, in his intervention during a panel discussion, said leaders must have compassion for others, humility in their carriage and exemplify integrity and excellence in their deeds.
