Daily Trust - the online edition

Nigerians are just clamouring for development with little emphasis to quality leadership and there can be no meaningful development without good leadership, Ambassador Joseph Anyalogu, the Executive Director of Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development has said .

He further said that the problem of development can be solved by building the capacity of the present leaders and nurturing the younger ones for effective and transformative leadership.

"We understand that it is only in the dictionary that development comes before leadership. We thought that rather than to join the fray in lamenting leadership inadequacies in the African continent, we should rise beyond the fray by taking practical steps towards addressing this problem, he said.

The formal presentation of the centre which will be held on May 5, will be an opportunity to rally committed individuals ,stakeholders, and high-impact groups to support the centre in its commitment to promote this transformative leadership, good leadership, and sustainable development in Nigeria and Africa in general." Ambassador Anyalogu stated.

He said the vision to establish the center came former Senate President Ken Nnamani when he realized that there was leadership lacuna which required urgent attention.

While noting the role played by the media in the drive for democracy, good governance and sustainable development in the country, the Executive Director solicited media partnership with centre in achieving its objectives.

According to Ambassador Anyalogu, ‘’the partnership we seek with the media is the symbiotic relationship which would also seek to build the capacity of the Nigerian media to contribute to the development of the nation and Africa in general’’.

President Umaru Yar’adua, Former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and General Ibrahim Babangida as well as General Abdulsalami Abubakar are expected to be at the occasion, he said. Also, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III as well as all several state governors will grace the occasion, according to Ambassador Ayalogu.

Similarly, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva , Dr Kamil Idris, Barren Cue, Baroness Powel and Baroness Lynda Chucker are some of the foreign dignitaries that will attend the launch, he added.

The event will be chaired by General Yakubu Gowon , ex Nigerian Head of State and former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings will give the keynote address while ex-United States Ambassador to Nigeria , Howard Jetter will be the guest speaker.

Ambassador Ayalogu said apart from the formal launching of the centre, the occasion would also be used to raise funds for the 3.5 billion naira Leadership and Resource Centre Facility which will be located in Abuja.