…NGGA Deputy Commissioner says leadership is about producing positive results
-Iduozee Paul’s, Benin correspondent
Wife of the Edo State governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki has reiterated the Edo government’s commitment to bringing more women into leadership in thegovernment to enable the state witness rapid economic development.
Mrs Betsy Obaseki made the statement at an event organized by the Nigerian Girl Guides Association (NGGA), Edo state branch in collaboration with the Office of the Wife of the Governor,to celebrate the“World Thinking Day and investiture of matrons of the association”. MrsObasekisaid thegovernor believes in the participation women in his administration to drive the economy.
She disclosed that since the administration took off more women have benefitted from his government’s policies adding that she decided to bring more women into the Girl Guide Association for them to participate and contribute to the body.
The First Lady who was one of those decorated at the investitureceremony, donatedN1millionto the group to help meet some of its needs.
Mrs Obasekithanked the association for honouring her and some wives of the 18 local governments in Edo state as she commended the guides for putting the programme together to boost the body’s moral.
Speaking on the theme:” Leadership -110 Years of Inspiring Lives and Adventure,” the deputy chief commissioner of NGGA, Deaconess Rhoda Thomas, said one of vital traits of a great leader is not to give greatness to human beings, but to help them extract the greatness they already have inside them.
Deaconess Rhoda Thomas added that effective leadership is not about making long speeches or being liked, but leadership that can produce positive results and attributes. She classified one of the ingredients necessary in a leader as integrity adding thata good leader is a lifelong learner who consciously deepens his followers understanding on leadership contexts.
The Girls Guide leader listed some of relevant qualities of a good leader as being focused, sensitive, ability to inspire and teach, intelligence, commitment, passion, creativity and innovation. Others are, ability to connect, communication skills, vision, ability to develop others, take blame, listen intently, being courageous, having a positive attitude, making good decisions, admitting mistakes, among others.
“The 2019 World Thinking Day is dedicated to girls, who took the lead in 1999 and demanded Lord Baden -Powell to create something for the girls. World Thinking Day is a special day to reflect on global sisterhood in guiding and to think about issues that are vital to girls and women around the world,” she explained.
“Why we have chosen 110 years of inspiring lives and adventure is because our centenary theme is “100 years of Inspiring and Impacting Lives. We see leadership as the capacity for someone to lead or the action of leading a group of people or an organization. Everyone makes mistakes, what makes one a good leader is the ability to accept mistakes and correct them so that others who are not involved are not inconvenienced or affected.”
In her opening remarks, the Edo State commissioner of NGGA, MrsEnebeli-Upkor Mary, said the body is aimed at nurturing, building the moral upbringing of girls and character to make them relevant in the society. She said the association is also saddled with the duty of looking into cases of girls and women molestations.
Enebeli-Upkor listed such cases as, rape, violence against the girl-child and women, intimidation, assault of women and the girl child, slavery, illegal immigration, girls’ prostitution,and molestation of women by some men. She explained that the association performed the task through constant advocacy programmes.
Former speaker in the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Elizabeth Ativie, described the event as unique and an avenue to protect the girl child and to make them to have proper education that would make them to become somebody in life.
Giving the closing remark, the assistant state commissioner of NGGA, Elakhame Kate, thanked the wife of the Edo state governor and other personalities that graced the investiture ceremony. She said the association is meant to tackle every issue affecting the girl child and women to enable them withstand all obstacles in life.
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Paul Efe is National Point Newspaper’s Benin Correspondent
