I have always maintained that leadership is about service, not titles. The excessive attachment to honorifics such as “Excellency” in our political culture often creates an unhealthy distance between leaders and the people they are meant to serve. Leadership should be measured by impact, integrity, and accountability—not by how loudly titles are announced or how frequently they are used.
A true leader must, above all, be a good listener. Listening is not a weakness; it is a strength. It is through listening that leaders understand the real needs of the people, correct their mistakes, and improve their decisions. When leaders stop listening, governance becomes detached, arrogant, and ultimately ineffective.
I recall a very humbling experience that reinforces this belief. During one of my visits to a primary school, I made a promise to return with support for the school. On a subsequent visit to the same community, a young primary school pupil stood up and respectfully but firmly reminded me that I had not fulfilled that promise. There were no titles, no protocol, and no fear—just a young Nigerian holding a leader accountable.
That moment stayed with me. It reminded me that leadership does not place anyone above scrutiny, and that even a child has the moral right to question a leader who makes a promise and fails to keep it. I listened, acknowledged the failure, and took responsibility. That is what leadership demands.
We must build a Nigeria where leaders are accessible, humble, and accountable; where children can speak truth without fear; and where titles do not shield anyone from responsibility. Our country does not need more “Excellencies.” It needs more leaders who listen, learn, and serve with sincerity.
Nigeria will only work when leadership is grounded in humility, empathy, and a deep respect for the people—young and old alike.
