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Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday, said a good leader should have a clear vision and the ability as well as all it takes to translate the vision into reality.

Governor Okowa stated this in his remarks at the annual public service lecture/valedictory lecture organised in his honour by the University of Ibadan Alumni Association (UIAA), Asaba Chapter, held at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.

The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah, said the outcome of the vision is what makes one a leader, pointing out that a leader should aim at having outcomes that would set him out from the crowd.

He noted that one of the greatest tasks before a leader was that he should be ready to create in his followers, the conviction, sincerity, passion and the will to carry on after he had left.

Okowa said that the theme of this year’s lecture “The Burden of Leadership” was particularly germane considering the timing of the lecture, adding that the burdens of leadership were legion and could not be holistically dealt with in one lecture.

According to him, the burden of leadership starts from the self, maintaining that it requires introspection, even as he said that one should be able to be truly convinced that he or she was aspiring for leadership because he or she wants to.

“There must be self-conviction that you truly want to embark on leadership, the numerous challenges notwithstanding.

“Leadership does not always centre on the political sphere, which is more slippery and difficult to manage.

“Whether the leadership is that of a company, any organisation, country or sub-national entity, it is best to understand the importance of providing the inspiration to achieve goals bigger than those which have been set out.

“With motivation and towing the right path, followers are bound to achieve targets that will surprise both the led and leader.

“Of course, you have to be ready to put in long hours with the attendant stress. You are bound to take decisions on daily, even hourly basis while getting yourself ready to bear the consequences of such decisions, good or bad.

“It involves facing challenges which look almost impossible to deal with. This was my experience when l assumed office but thank God for His grace, l was prepared to confront the daunting tasks headlong.

“The Burden of leadership also includes assembling persons who you believe, have faith in the vision you are championing. You also should be ready to provide transparent leadership traits by walking the thin line of honesty and sincerity of purpose.

“This is the aspect that inspires those you put together to help you attain the goals you have clearly set out, including the time frame. What is of utmost importance here is building consensus at any and every given time,” the governor said

Governor Okowa expressed appreciation to the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, Asaba Chapter, for organising the public service lecture cum valedictory lecture in his honour.

“How great it is that we have been able to bind together all these years and remaining strong just as our alma mater has been blazing the trail in the tertiary education sector. I sincerely hope and pray that we shall all continue to bind together,” he added.

In his speech, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire who presided over the ceremony, applauded members of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, Asaba Chapter, for organising the annual public service lecture and valedictory lecture in honour of the state governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.

The Chief Economic Adviser to the governor, Dr. Kingsley Emu who delivered the 2023 annual public service lecture and valedictory lecture in honour of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa titled ‘The Burden of Leadership’ said that Governor Okowa had done excellently well, having engaged people with multi-disciplinary skills in his government in the past eight years.

The highlights of the ceremony were the decoration of the wife of the governor, Dame Okowa Okowa in recognition of her contributions to societal development through her 05 initiative and the presentation of plaque to Governor Okowa and the guest lecturer, Dr. Kingsley Emu.