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Why Leadership is the Problem

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Leadership

By Jerome-Mario Utomi

During an address by Harvard Political Professor, Samuel Huntington, on August 1995, at Taipei, he was among other things asked of his impression about Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s effort to develop Singapore, and he scantly summed it up this way; the honesty and efficiency Senior Minister Lee has brought to Singapore are likely to follow him to his grave.

However, like faith, which is a belief in things not seen, coupled with the fact that ordinary calculation can be upturned by extra-ordinary personalities, not only did Lee’s efficiency survived him, but history has since assisted in providing answers to the correctness or otherwise of Professor Huntington declaration.

Accordingly, it’s now in public domain those two years after the observation, Singapore- a country with a GDP of $3 billion in 1965 grew to $46 billion in 1997, making it the 8th highest per capita GNP in the world, according to the World Bank ranking.

Clearly, a bracing account and unprecedented result! What is, however, left for those who are living is to learn the lessons from such history and gain wisdom, or ignore it, and wonder in dilemma.

Essentially, the crux of this piece is to use Prime Minister Lee Quen Yew account to analyse and understand the essential ingredients of foresight in leadership and draw a lesson on how the leadership decision-making process involves judgment about uncertain elements and differs from the pure mathematical probability process.

From accounts, aside from the fact that the story of Singapore’s progress is a reflection of the advances of the industrial countries-their inventions, technology, enterprise, and drive, a united and a determined group of leaders, backed by practical and hard-working people who trust them made it possible, It is part of the story of a leader’s search for new fields to increase the wealth and well-being of his people.

From this new awareness, flows the major difference.

When one juxtaposes the above account with the current situation in Nigeria, it, without minding what others may say, points in one direction; Nigeria’s current posturing is more man-made than natural, more of leadership gaps than the lack of resources.

The challenge is further compounded by a misguided view of amalgamation by some segments of Nigerians as more of a historicized occurrence without any barefaced or hidden advantage to the nation; a mindset that further promoted deliberate demonstration of impunity, as well as superiority by one group or region against the other.

But in dramatizing this superiority, the point the people did forget is that never should one ‘be so foolish to believe that you are stirring admiration by flaunting the qualities that raised you above others.

By making them aware of their inferior positions, you are only stirring unhappy admiration or envy that will gnaw at them until they undermine you in ways that you may not foresee’. It is only the fools that dare the god of envy by flaunting his victory’.

The sad news, however, is that this avoidable situation was allowed to complete its gestation and finally gave birth to what is now known and addressed in our political domain as a ‘call for restructuring’ or agitation for resources control.

But at a more significant level, it is the leadership performance deficit which has plundered the socio-economic affairs of the nation to a sorry state; an occurrence that stems from an unknown leadership style described by analysts as neither ‘system nor method based’; without anything exemplary or impressive.

While this appalling situation daily unfolds in our political space, the global leadership stage is littered with telling evidence about leaders that have demonstrated leadership sagacity and professional ingenuity that our leaders have refused to replicate their resourcefulness on our shores.

For instance, in 1932, Franklin D Roosevelt, the Democratic Party candidate, United State of America was elected president in the midst of the great depression. At the time of inauguration in 1933, one-quarter of the labour force was out of a job, with many thrown into poverty. Industrial production had fallen and investments had collapsed.

But within two years of his administration, he revived the economy and moved to the next stage of his agenda. He signed the social security act which introduced the modern welfare state into the United States pension at retirement, unemployment benefits, and some public health care and disability benefits. When asked how? he responded thus; “extraordinary conditions call for extraordinary remedies” This to my mind is leadership accomplishment worthy of emulation.

Regrettably, here in the country, the leadership challenge is given a boost by the ground propensity and penchant for corrupt, nepotistic practices of our ‘leaders’ since independence, a development that is gradually becoming a norm; a state of affairs vast majority of Nigerians claims was responsible for the inability of the nation’s successive leaders to alleviate the real condition of the poor, the deprived, the lonely, the oppressed or get into their lives and participate in their struggle.

Looking at commentaries, one can discern that the above fact is largely responsible for the youth’s restiveness and tribal aggressions as the masses continue to fight in order to register their grievance against state-sponsored socioeconomic deprivations.

It is also of considerable significance to this discourse to note that this leadership challenge has visited Nigerians with not just poverty but what analysts described as ‘island poverty’ or poverty in the midst of plenty; which has, in turn, promoted both hopelessness and powerlessness among innocent Nigerians.

But in all, one thing seems to stand out, our leadership challenge or bad governance was implanted by the leaders, encouraged by our unquestioning obedience to the authorities and can only be reduced or erased by Nigerians.

Having discovered the challenge threatening the continued existence of our country, it becomes imperative that whatever measure the nation may want to use in tackling this challenge can only succeed if it probably puts in place steps that will guarantee leadership restructuring.

Catalysing the process of building the Nigeria of our dreams that is laced with good leadership will among other demands require a sincere and selfless leadership, a politically and economically restructured polity brought by the national consciousness that can unleash the social, economic and political transformation of the country while rejecting the present socio-economic system that has bred corruption, inefficiency, the primitive capital accumulation that socially excluded the vast majority of our people.

Above all, to completely put things right, the federal government must recognize, and position Nigeria to be a society of equal citizens where opportunities are equal and personal contribution is recognised and rewarded on merit regardless of language, culture, religion, or political affiliations.

If we are able to achieve this, it will once again, announce the arrival of a brand new great nation where peace and love shall reign supreme as no nation enjoys durable peace without justice and stability, without fairness and equity!

Part of that effort will entail recognizing that the solution to our leadership challenge may afterward not be based on argument or debate but by the quality of the people in charge.

This will be followed by frantic effort to create a ‘civil society that will help sort out the irresponsible from the response in leadership. Another inoculation that will cure this leadership challenge will demand the development of a mindset for details and history necessary for today’s leadership.

Jerome-Mario Utomi is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Policy), Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos. He could be reached via [email protected]/08032725374.

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Northern Nigeria’s Just a Shadow of its Former Self

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northern nigeria

By Saifullahi Attahir

On April 1, 1953, late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto and the last Premier of Northern Nigeria, delivered a pivotal speech in the House of Representatives in Lagos. He articulated the region’s concerns about hastily embracing self-government by 1956, emphasizing the need for careful consideration and preparation.”

Sardauna presented compelling reasons why Northern Nigeria couldn’t be rushed into advocating for self-government by 1956, as documented in his own book, ‘My Life’.”

This reflection seeks to uncover the underlying causes of our challenges and differences, aiming to pave the way for a sound and sustainable future for all. Nigeria’s complexities are not unique; countries like India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kenya, South Africa, and the United States offer valuable lessons in navigating similar issues.”

“We from the Northern Region have never intended to hinder the progress of any other region. We also acknowledge that regions demanding self-government for themselves alone are not inherently wrong, as each community is best suited to judge its own situation. Therefore, we believe the people of the North are the best judges of their own readiness for self-government, and we cannot commit to a fixed date without fully considering the implications. The destiny of the North rests with its people, and we must proceed with caution.”

“We of the North desire a form of self-government that will not lead to future regret. It would be unwise to set a date for self-government without carefully considering Nigeria’s current state. While we politicians often speak of Nigerian unity, we must acknowledge the complexities that exist.”

Sixty years ago, Nigeria as we know it today did not exist. Instead, the region comprised numerous large and small communities, each with distinct outlooks and beliefs. Despite the introduction of British rule and Western education, these diverse communities have yet to form a cohesive unit. Nonetheless, the British can be credited with bringing these disparate groups together, laying the groundwork for a unified nation.”

A significant milestone was reached with the introduction of the Richards Constitution in 1947, marking the first time Northern and Southern representatives sat together to legislate for a unified Nigeria. This development came 25 years after Southern representatives began participating in legislative discussions in 1922.

The 1947 Constitution was slated to last nine years, likely to give the North time to adjust. However, after just two years of experience under that Constitution, it was revised, and now we have a new one that’s barely a year old. I must note, Mr. President, that motions like the one I’m attempting to amend seem designed to undermine the positive inter-regional relationships that the current Constitution is fostering.”

“While motions like this may be expressions of opinion, I believe they can only serve to cause harm and ill-feeling. The outside world already views Northern Nigeria as conservative and backward, and some Southern Nigerians’ past utterances have reinforced this perception. Before committing to such matters, we must seek the mandate of our people. As representatives, it’s our duty to consult those we represent on major issues like this, ensuring we voice the views of the nation.

If Honourable Members from the West and East speak to this motion without amendment, representing their people, I must emphasize that we from the North have not been given such a mandate by our people.”

“No Honourable Member can fairly criticize Northern Legislators for rejecting this motion, which arbitrarily sets a date for national self-government. We’re working diligently towards self-government, despite our late start in adopting Western education. Our goal is to build a strong, lasting foundation for development. Given Nigeria’s current state, the Northern Region will not rush into decisions that might have dire consequences.”

Unless we define our goals clearly, both internally and externally, our demand for self-government may not be taken seriously. We’ve seen groups demand self-government without careful consideration. However, accepting self-government requires a thorough understanding of its implications, ensuring no region imposes its will on others.

Any country embracing self-government must do so with full awareness of its implications, eliminating the risk of one section imposing its will on others. I propose this amendment as a more suitable approach to discussing self-government at this stage, without concern that its passage would automatically bind all regions.”

“On the contrary, a private member’s motion is meant to provide an opportunity for the member and others to express their views on a subject, as I mentioned earlier.”

Countless motions won’t achieve self-government for a divided Nigeria. We can only demand and attain self-government when its meaning is fully understood by all citizens. Let’s thoroughly discuss the implications and reach a consensus among the leaders of all three Regions. This is our primary objective, and by achieving it, we’ll demonstrate our readiness to handle the significant responsibility that comes with self-government. Only then can we safely demand self-government.”

Speeches like this showcase the speaker’s depth of knowledge, clear conscience, and remarkable ability to forecast the future while demonstrating genuine concern for their constituents. In my opinion, Nigeria, particularly the North, might have been rushed into independence prematurely.

Attahir is the President of the National Association of Jigawa State Medical Students. He can be reached via [email protected]

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Leading on the Road and Across Cultural Lines: Tips for Success

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Isoken Aigbomian Tips for Success

By Isoken Aigbomian

I’ve been asked in the past about the most demanding challenges I’ve faced in my career, and I say one of them is transitioning from implementation leadership to strategy leadership. As a fantastic salesperson, there is a good chance you will never leave ‘sales mode’.  You will always find yourself trying to create connections you can leverage later at every event or process. When you take up a more strategic role, you are less on the field and more in the drawing room, building frameworks that will be communicated to your team for implementation.

In Nigeria’s fast-evolving sales landscape, managing teams across multiple states and regions gives me a fantastic opportunity to challenge myself and grow. As the Regional Manager overseeing sales teams in the various areas, I have had to develop strategies that ensure seamless operations, meet sales targets, and drive consistent performance. In this article, I’ll share the key strategies that have helped me excel in managing sales teams across Nigeria’s diverse regions.

1. Build Trust Through Transparent Communication

Effective communication is at the heart of any successful sales team. Given the geographical spread of my team, it was crucial to establish a culture of open and transparent communication. Regular virtual meetings, calls, and on-site visits allow me to ensure alignment across all teams, discuss ongoing sales opportunities, share best practices, and address any concerns promptly. Clear communication has helped me maintain a unified approach towards achieving regional and organisational sales goals. My go-to communication style is the ‘feedback communication’ style: this way, I am assured that my audience understands the information I have passed and can communicate it to their direct reports without losing anything.

2. Understand Regional Diversity and Build Strategies That Fit into the Market Nuances

The level of diversity in a country like Nigeria is incredible. Each region in Nigeria has distinct market conditions, customer preferences, and even business practices (formal and informal). Understanding these nuances has been key to tailoring my sales strategies. For example, consumer behavior in Lagos may differ significantly from Kano or Port Harcourt, so being attuned to regional trends allows me to customize the sales approach and messaging for each area. By fostering a deep understanding of local markets, I can guide my team to more effective sales tactics that resonate with our target customers. I know that in the East, on Mondays, economic activities are slower than in other regions, while in Kano, on Fridays, economic activities are slower. This knowledge helps me create better strategies that will yield the best results.

3. Build a Cohesive Team and Empower Local Sales Leaders

Effective delegation and empowerment are essential in managing a large sales team across multiple regions. One thing I focus on is identifying strong local leaders within each region who understand the unique challenges and opportunities of their area. When hiring sales managers, this is an important skill and expectation for me because you will work closely with me to ensure the implementation of the processes. By empowering them to take ownership of their respective regions, I foster leadership skills and ensure that decisions are made with the regional context in mind. This boosts accountability and enhances sales outcomes.

4. Leverage Technology to Drive Sales and Collaboration

It’s 2025, and salespeople no longer use a Rolodex because the digital age has given us fantastic technology to create, build and manage relationships. I rely on CRM systems, project management tools, and sales dashboards to ensure that performance is consistently tracked, goals are monitored, and key data points are easily accessible. These tools enable seamless collaboration between regions and ensure that all sales teams have the resources and support they need to succeed. I also ensure that my team gets training at different levels to keep the team positively engaged and up-to-date with the latest product offerings and sales techniques.

5. Lead by Example and Drive Results

As a Sales Regional Manager, it’s important to me that I lead from the front. I prioritise actively participating in key sales meetings, setting high standards, and driving sales performance myself. By leading by example—meeting sales targets, demonstrating product knowledge, or resolving customer concerns—I inspire my team to perform at their best consistently. This has helped create a culture of accountability and high performance within the team. While setting budgets for my team, I also set budgets for myself and reinforce the culture of self-accountability, grit and technical depth.

Managing multiple teams across different regions comes with its own set of unique challenges, but by focusing on clear communication, understanding regional market dynamics, empowering local leadership, leveraging technology, and leading by example, I have been able to drive consistent success. Ultimately, sales leadership is about aligning regional efforts with broader organizational goals, and with the right strategies in place, any sales leader can excel in this dynamic role.

Isoken Aigbomian is a Regional Sales Manager, Enterprise Network Sales Division at Moniepoint Inc

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The Legal Illusion of Ownership: Why AI-Generated Content Cannot Be Protected by Copyright Law

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AI-Generated Content Somadina Eugene-Okorie

By Somadina Eugene-Okorie Esq

In the rapidly evolving intersection between technology and creativity, one fundamental misunderstanding is becoming dangerously widespread, and it is the belief that a person can claim legal copyright ownership over content, be it music, movies, articles, or any other expressive work generated through artificial intelligence.

This notion not only misrepresents the intent and scope of copyright law but also opens the floodgates to legal liability, particularly for copyright infringement and misappropriation.The question is deceptively simple: Can one claim copyright over a body of work generated using artificial intelligence?

Now, as a patent and copyright law expert, the unequivocal legal and philosophical answer is no.

This article therefore undertakes a detailed examination of above subject, and is grounded in statutory interpretation, international legal developments, and a proper understanding of how AI functions.

  1. Copyright: A Protection of Original Human Expression

At the heart of copyright law lies a central tenet which is originality. The legal doctrine is not concerned with mere novelty or surface-level uniqueness; rather, it seeks to protect expressions that are the product of human intellect and effort. It is this personal investment of creative labour that qualifies a work for copyright protection.

Under Section 2 of the Nigerian Copyright Act, 2022, only works that satisfy specific conditions are eligible for copyright. These include literary works, musical compositions, artistic works, audiovisual works, sound recordings, and broadcasts.

However, Section 2(2) makes it explicitly clear that two essential requirements must be fulfilled:

  1. Original character: In this context some effort must have been exerted in making the work to give it original quality;
  2. Fixation: The work must be reduced into a tangible or perceptible medium from which it can be reproduced or communicated.

In the absence of these twin criteria, a musical or artistic work, regardless of its aesthetic appeal, cannot be deemed copyrightable under Nigerian law.

  1. AI and the Illusion of Originality

Artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, operates by ingesting vast amounts of existing data ranging from text, music, images, video, and code which are scraped from the internet and other digital repositories. It identifies linguistic, auditory, or visual patterns, then recombines them into content that appears novel. But appearance is not substance in law.

The machine does not create; rather it derives. It does not originate; it rather synthesizes.

And those notes, the implications are significant. Because the output of AI models is fundamentally non-original, being algorithmically assembled from pre-existing human work.Hence, such content fails to meet the originality standard of copyright law. Moreover, because these models depend on training data that often includes copyrighted materials, without obtaining licenses or permissions, AI-generated content are therefore not just unoriginal, but potentially infringing.

Thus, any person claiming authorship over such works is not just misunderstanding the law; they are possibly implicating themselves in intellectual property theft an act that is punishable before the law.

III. Artificial Works vs Copyrighted Works: A Fundamental Legal Divide

There is a legal wall of separation between copyrighted works and what we now call “artificial works.”

Copyrighted works:

  • Are authored by humans.
  • Bear the imprint of original thought.
  • Reflect creative choices in expression, form, and structure.
  • Can be clearly attributed to a person or group with identifiable intent.

Artificial works, by contrast:

  • Are generated via algorithms based on patterns in pre-existing data.
  • Lack personal creative input.
  • Cannot be said to originate from any identifiable human author.
  • Are inherently derivative and frequently simulate the work of real artists.

This dichotomy is not just theoretical; it is embedded in legal systems globally, including Nigeria, the United States, and the European Union.

  1. A Precedence: Michael Smith and the First AI-Generated Music Fraud Prosecution

In a landmark case that underscores the danger of conflating AI output with original work, a North Carolina man Michael Smith was indicted in September 2024 by US federal prosecutors. According to the prosecution, Smith allegedly used artificial intelligence to generate “hundreds of thousands” of songs, which he then streamed via automated bots to fraudulently collect the sum of over $10 million in royalties since 2017.

This is according to the indictment unsealed by Damian Williams, a U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and the FBI, which marked the first ever criminal case for AI-assisted streaming fraud. But more critically, Smith’s real offense according to the prosecution, wasn’t simply streaming artificial music, it was copyright fraud and infringement. Prosecutors argued that the AI-generated songs unlawfully utilized material derived from copyrighted content of existing artists, thus constituting theft under intellectual property law.

This case sets a precedent that is likely to reverberate globally. It sends a clear message that using AI to generate content that mimics or remixes copyrighted work is not innovation, rather it is infringement.

  1. Nigeria’s Emerging AI-Creative Landscape: A Legal Vacuum with Consequences

Nigeria is not immune to the allure of AI. From AI-generated Afrobeats album released in 2023 to synthetic voiceovers in Nollywood scripts, to recent AI-generated movies, creators are increasingly inviting machines into the creative process. However, more disturbing is the fact that Nigeria currently lacks a detailed legal framework on AI-generated works, creating a dangerous grey zone.

But this legal lacuna does not render creators immune. As explained earlier, Nigeria’s Copyright Act 2022 is more than sufficient to prosecute individuals who lay copyright claims to AI-generated works. If it can be shown that such works were copied from existing copyrighted materials, liability attaches immediately, even if the copying was done by an AI tool.

Thus, artists, producers, and studios experimenting with AI must understand thatthe lack of express AI regulation is not a license to infringe. You may not be the original infringer, but by adopting and publishing the work as your own, you assume responsibility for any infringement therein.

  1. Copyright is Not Registration, it is Originality

Many erroneously believe that securing copyright registration grants ownership. However, copyright does not arise from registration. It arises from human original creation. To this end, registration is merely evidentiary, used to assert and protect rights already earned.

Consequently, registering an AI-generated song with a collecting society or copyright body does not legalize the ownership. It only creates a false veneer of legitimacy, which can easily collapse under scrutiny in law.

As such, even if an AI-assisted song is “registered” and earns revenue through streaming platforms or publishers, the artist remains vulnerable to lawsuits or criminal charges once original creators can identify traces of their work in the AI output.

In Conclusion: Human Creativity Cannot Be Automated, And Neither Can Its Protections

The conversation about AI and intellectual property must not be driven by novelty or convenience, but by the legal and moral foundations of creativity. Copyright exists to encourage the labor of the mind and the spirit. It cannot be claimed over soulless patterns, no matter how harmonious they may sound.

Artists, content creators, and developers must therefore tread carefully. Embracing AI is not inherently wrong, but claiming authorship or ownership over what is essentially a machine-generated remix of human labour is not only a misreading of copyright law, it is an invitation to litigation, financial loss, and public scandal.

In the end, the law is clear: You cannot own what you did not originally create.

NB: This article is for educational and information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For individual cases, consult a licensed intellectual property attorney.

Somadina Eugene-Okorie Esq, an Advocate, Intellectual Property/Business Solicitor, writes from Lekki, Lagos Nigeria

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