Kunle ADELABU
-To monitor and evaluate participants’ goals in other sessions later in the year
In its quest to make the Local Government functionaries deliver and impact on the people at the grassroots, Hon. Babajimi Benson’s Foundation, iCare Foundation, organized a One-Day Training for the elected and appointed Local Government officials in Ikorodu division.
The retreat, which was themed, ‘Leadership Training On Impacting The Electorate And Achieving Governance And Legislative Excellence Using The Experiential GoalPro Method’, was held at the Regal Hall located at Olu-Odo in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu division, on Wednesday, January 3, 2018.
The retreat was organized in conjunction with the Olusola Lanre Coaching Academy (OLCA) and the Life Coaches Association of Nigeria (LCAN).
The retreat was attended by lawmakers representing both Ikorodu Constituency I and II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade and Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, as well as the Councils’ Chairmen, elected councilors and all the appointed political office holders in the six Local Government and Local Council Development Areas in the division.
Also in attendance were selected Journalists, Community Developers and Activists.
In his opening address,the facilitator of the training, Hon. Babajimi Benson, a member of the Federal House of Representatives, stated that the retreat was his own approach to help the elected and appointed public office holders fulfill their pledges to the people.
He added that he is committed to ensuring that the electorate get the best from their elected representatives and the government.
Also speaking, the former Secretary to the Lagos State Government and newly appointed member of the National Directorate of Employment, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, appreciated Hon. Benson for impacting positively on the electorate while also enjoining young politicians to get adequate tutelage and acquire necessary experience.
The veteran politician and community developer, speaking from personal experience in private and public life, advised young politicians not to be in hurry and ensure that they first contribute meaningfully to the society without necessarily expecting any reward.
In addition, he challenged the council chairmen in Ikorodu division and other elected and appointed council officials to ensure that they impact positively on the masses.
Mr Olusola Lanre, the main resource person, in his lecture stated that Nigeria will not achieve its dream if Nigerians do not see themselves as stakeholders in the country and work committedly and dedicatedly for its development.
“We have to use this gathering and Ikorodu division as a micro Nigeria. We must endeavour to create a Nigeria of our dream in our own immediate environment (Ikorodu division). Only then that we can confidently state that we want to make bigger impact on the country”, Mr Olusola stated.
“The challenges ahead of us required that we change the ways we have been doing things because we cannot continually do things the old way and expect different outcomes”, he challenged the participants most of whom were politicians.
In addition, Mr Olusola challenged the participants to always make realizable plans, evaluate the plans strength and weaknesses from time-to-time and work with great commitment and discipline to achieve the stated objectives.
Among the attributes of a good leader stated by the lecturer were vision, setting of strategic direction, character, emotional intelligence, motivation, attitude, coaching, development, values, ethics and empowerment among others.
He also conceptualized leadership as, “helping surbordinate through coaching, make decisions, commit to action and produce results”.
Mr Olusola also mentioned five levels of leadership as self, organizational, people, thought and delivery, and added that 92 percent of leaders that set goal every year fail to achieve them.
He listed setting of too many goals at the same time, setting goals without holistic visualization, following the new year trend, setting goals on hope and faith without tactical and strategic plan, lack of commitment and dedication, and procrastination among others as causes for the failure of set goals.
While condemning procrastination as a major bane of leadership, the resource person listed ways of overcoming it.
“You can overcome procrastination by setting short, medium and long term goals, clearly defining of goals and write them down with the requisite actions of achievements, punish oneself if procrastinated, create a step-by-step execution plan for goals achievement, set reassuring reminders and get accountability partners among others.
During the retreat, more than one hundred participants were divided into several groups with at least 3 coaches to guide them.
There were also written and practical tests to teach the participants on how to plan, monitor and achieve set goals and objectives.
Among the participants were Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Nurudeen Solaja, Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Chief Dele Olowu, a Chieftain of APC, Hon. Wasiu Adeshina, Chairman, Ikorodu LG, Hon. Adeola Banjo, Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Comrade Sesan Daini, Chairman, Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, Hon. Wasiu Agoro, Chairman, Imota LCDA and Hon. (Princess) Jumoke Ademehin, Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA.
According to the organizers, the participants would have three more session of the retreat to monitor and evaluate set goals.
The three sessions were scheduled to hold quarterly this year.
