…Say ‘without purposeful leadership, no sustainable devt can be achieved’
Management experts and policy leaders have warned that persistent leadership deficits across public and private sectors were “undermining development in the North-west, fuelling insecurity, poverty, and institutional fragility in the region.”
The warning came during the 2025 North-West Zonal Management Summit of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) held in Kaduna.
The Institute stressed that the region’s vast human and natural endowments would remain underutilised unless leaders at all levels adopted “purpose-driven governance, strategic collaboration, and coherent policy implementation.”
The Summit, themed, “Leading with Purpose: The Imperative for Sustainable Development of Northwest Nigeria,” brought together senior administrators, policy experts, corporate leaders, and management professionals from across the North-west, with the event hosted by the NIM Kaduna Chapter.
In his welcome address, the North-west Zonal Chairman, Prof. Abubakar Garba, said the theme was chosen deliberately, given the current challenges confronting the region.
He said, “Without purposeful leadership, no sustainable development can be achieved. The North-west is richly endowed, but insecurity, poverty, and institutional decline are all traceable to leadership failures across the board. Our aim here is to diagnose these problems and proffer short, medium, and long-term solutions.”
Garba emphasised the role of the Institute in training leaders and managers, noting that forums like the summit provide essential inputs for translating knowledge into practical policy and organisational interventions.
He also acknowledged the Kaduna state government for its support, expressing gratitude to Governor Uba Sani and the state’s Head of Service, as well as NIM’s President and Chairman of Council, Commodore Abimbola O. Ayuba (retd.), and the Registrar/Chief Executive, Mrs. Taiwo Ganiyat Olusesi, for their dedication to repositioning the Institute.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the NIM Fellows, the Chairman of the Fellows Consultative Forum, Group Capt. Benjamin Mosugu (retd.), highlighted the urgency of purposeful action.
“This is not the time for rhetoric. This gathering must be a catalyst for action, partnerships, and renewed commitment to transforming the North-west into a hub of innovation, enterprise, and sustainable growth.
“As Fellows, we recognise our duty to provide leadership, mentorship, and strategic guidance – this institute must continue to shape the national development conversation,” he said.
Goodwill messages were also delivered by NIM chapters across the zone.
The Chair of the Zaria Chapter, Mercy Ada Onu, in a goodwill message, called for actionable collaboration, while Kano state Chapter Chairman, Alhaji Ado Rabo Shuaibu, urged participants to translate ambition into results.
The Katsina state Chairman, Dr. Babangida Abubakar Albaba, described the summit as a “strategic platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and innovation” that could improve outcomes across North-west institutions.
The Host Chapter Chairman, Dr. Adamu Bala A., said the Kaduna Chapter was honored to convene the summit. He noted that the theme – anchored on purpose-driven leadership and strategic innovation – “speaks directly to the development priorities of the region.”