The Leadership Qualities In You…The Text of My Address to King's College Boys 13 July 2017

I greet you all today and ask you to accompany me on this brief pep talk that you may be inspired and encouraged. I am Olu Ojedokun of the 1977 to 1984 set (Panes House). I have from Nottingham, England a doctorate in Law, Ethics and International Relations, I am a Barrister and Solicitor of the Nigerian Supreme Court and work as a missionary and lecturer at Lead City University, Ibadan. I wish to thank the School Management, Ashley-Dejo who was my Assistant on the leadership of the King’s College Students’ Council and Ken Ekwueme who was my school son for this opportunity.

I remember it is on the fading green and dust smothered fields of King’s College that my younger brother Adebowale found his mastery and leadership qualities. Whilst I was content to engage in fitful romances with ‘power’ on the Students’ Council, he excelled by playing at the highest levels for the School team. He was a defender of no mean feat and with the advantage that his height of over 6 feet 3 inches conferred; the dominance in the air followed. His athleticism also allowed him to marshal the central defence effortlessly. 

I am also compelled to pay tribute to Terrance Onyewuenyi, the School Captain of the 1978/79 academic session. He was the ultimate all rounder!  He was an athlete of the highest calibre, who featured in cricket, hockey, the sprints and other sports and yet left the School with the best of grades, allowing him to study Medicine at University of Lagos. It was for boys like this that school colours were invented, the honours given to those with exceptional achievements in the field of sports. He led on the field and in every part of his life, he lost his life in Takwa Bay, Lagos while trying to save another from drowning, and this was the hallmark of School Captain Terrance Onyewuenyi, a man of blessed memory.

Leadership is an interesting topic and I chose to boil it down to Leadership by Position, by Function and by Calling.  Lois Ehiguese, my student at the University gives a summary as follows:

Leadership as a Function

A leader is a person who directs, instructs, conducts, guides, accommodates his followers. It means to direct, It means to guide, It means to instruct, It means to correct. 

Leadership as a Position 

It means according to the rank, It means the senior, It means there is a President, Vice President and General secretary which governs the organisation. 

Leadership as a Calling 

It means such an individual has heard from the Lord, and is a Pastor in the ministry. Has decided to take the burden of the members, interceding on their behalf. For example Samuel in the Bible.

But it does not matter how you get there, you must remember you all have the capacity and potential to lead.

Our School song states: ‘This is what they teach in the good old school "Only by obedience may you learn to rule". If you fail look closely, seek the reason why. You are power to conquer if you only try. Others went before you and attained the light. Where they wait to cheer you, victors in the fight. When the call is sounded all must answer "HERE"! Voice and bearing showing neither shame nor fear Pointing to our honour, which untarnished stands Bright as when we took it from our founder's hands.’

You have must realised that more than any time in recent history, Nigeria's destiny is not of your own choosing. Particularly the challenges we face with insecurity, kidnappings and the lot. You did not seek nor did you provoke an assault on your freedom and your way of life as young boys. You did not expect nor did you invite a confrontation with such evil that pervades our society today. Yet you must as future leaders hold on and believe that the true measure of a people's strength is how they rise to master that moment when it does arrive.

I draw from a parody of Thomas Jefferson’s quote that says “We must not be afraid to follow the truth wherever it may lead. Scientific truth enobles us, it tells us who we are, where we have been and where we are going. I believe the truth will only be found when all scientists are free to pursue it.  You must never forget that decisions are made by those who show up, by those who are punctual, by those who are ready.

What will be the next thing that challenges you, Wole? That makes you go farther and work harder? Do you know that when smallpox was eradicated, it was considered the single greatest humanitarian achievement of the last century? Surely you can do it again, as we did in the times when our eyes looked towards the heavens and, with outstretched fingers, we touched the face of God. As I end today, I want you to leave this hall, these grounds never doubting that that a small group of thoughtful and committed people can change the world. Do you know why? Because it's the only thing that ever has.

I suggest that the grounds, class rooms and dormitories of King’s College are too crowded with leaders this morning, but I think that every time you as students of King’s College, Lagos think you have measured your capacity to meet a challenge, you must look up and be reminded that that your capacity may well be limitless. This is a time for King’s College heroes. You must do what is hard. You will achieve what is great. This is a time for King’s College and you must reach for the stars.