Nigerian Leadership Council, NLC Nigerian Leadership Council Nigerian Leadership Council (NLC) - a think-tank, non-profit, non-governmental organization - is devoted to finding an enduring blueprint and skills for effective, compassionate leadership, and dynamic governance in Nigeria. It was formed on September 1, 2004, on the basis that great, compassionate, caring leadership can be learned, just as we learn how to talk, read, write, drive, sing, and dance. REAL EDUCATION (not nominal degrees and titles) is the key. Great leaders have REAL EDUCATION – the common sense. They understand the world they live in and therefore act and react accordingly. Below are the three basic, but fundamental, leadership lessons that must be learned for the betterment of Nigeria: Lesson 1: When a leader loots and hides the loot in a foreign country, his people die of starvation, malnutrition, and disease while the people of the country where he hides the loot enjoy abundant, healthy lives with his country's money. Put differently, looting and hiding the loot in a foreign country is tantamount to self-inflicted genocide – total self-annihilation. Indeed, great leaders understand this simple but very important lesson. As such, they refrain from robbing their own people only to stockpile the loot abroad. Lesson 2: Leadership is parenthood. Just as parents take care of their children, leaders should take care of their own people - the people they take an oath to serve and protect. Even animals in animal kingdom understand this very important lesson - hence, a rat does not labor for a squirrel. Indeed, rats feed fellow rats; squirrel feed fellow squirrels. Humans must be better than animals. Lesson 3: Leadership is action - not a position. Great leaders take positive, concrete steps to bringing development and civilization to their country. They build and maintain great infrastructure as seen in the countries considered "developed" and "civilized". They fund research in all aspects of human development, and sponsor talented children on scholarship. They know that leadership is not a position or in name – they are always concerned with the advancement of their country; their legacy and stewardship matter a lot to them. Fellow Nigerians, it is obvious that leaders in "developed" and "civilized" countries perfectly understand the above three FUNDAMENTAL lessons, and continue to convey and pass on those lessons to their own children - in words and in action. Hence, they do not rob their countries only to hide the loot in Nigerian banks - they bank in their own countries. They do not abandon their country's hospitals only to come to Nigeria for medical checkup and treatment - they build and maintain their own hospitals. They do not abandon their own schools only to send their children to Nigerian schools - they build and maintain world-class schools for their own children. Accordingly, "developed" and "civilized" countries are called "developed" and "civilized" because they understand perfectly the three basic, fundamental leadership lessons (adumbrated above), and act accordingly - nothing more, nothing less. Again, here, at NLC, a part of our goals is to provide important lessons in leadership, hoping that if most Nigerian leaders learn those lessons, Nigeria will regain what nature destined her to be - the Giant of Africa. It only requires a good understanding of the world and how this world operates. It requires sound knowledge and common sense - hence, knowledge is power. It requires a deep reflection, compassion, and a change of heart on the part of the leadership. Kindly explore our website for the leadership blueprint, skills and recipe to producing great, effective leaders in Nigeria. PEACE!