At the inaugural summit of the Dr Abdul-Lateef Oladimeji Adegbite Memorial Salon Series on Leadership, held at the Mike Adenuga Centre of Alliance Françoise, Lagos on 28 September, 2022; Oyindamola Lami Adeyemi, the Executive Chairperson of Still Earth Holdings, calls on leader to invest in infrastructural development.
In her speech titled: Leading with less while building for development – tackling Nigeria’s infrastructure conundrum, Adeyemi echoed some of the international and local headlines that suggest that the world economy will likely move into recession in 2023 as a result of the war in Ukraine, poverty, climate change and sundry matters and suggested how effective leadership could help mitigate its negative consequences.
“Every society’s strength is largely determined by the calibre of its leadership. Throughout history, successful societies have been those whose leaders have been able to rise to the occasion and calm storms during crises while also advancing the course of prosperity during times of peace.”
The construction, onshore & offshore drilling, private equity & finance expert, who was one of the panellists at the summit, described infrastructure is the engine for countries’ economic growth and posited that investment in transportation, water, buildings, electricity, education and security can create jobs and serve as the backbone of a healthy economy.
“Although the World Bank warned of the risk of a global recession in 2023, as I earlier highlighted, it is an interesting thing to note that some World Bank reports have shown the link between investments in good security, education, electricity, internet, road infrastructure and economic development using the Horn of Africa and Lake Chad regions as case studies.”
She said that the only way Nigerian leaders, in this period of lean revenue, could to lead with less while building for development – to tackle Nigeria’s infrastructure conundrum is for them to see infrastructure development as a solution and not a cost, learn to preserve and maintain physical and social monuments, do away with a recency bias and learn to build a strong and lasting credit system and infrastructure.
This insight comes from her wealth of experience as the Executive Chairperson’s at Still Earth Holdings; a fast-growing group of company playing the construction and real estate sector, oil and gas, and finance.
Other Speakers/Panellists at the summit were Dr Omobola Johnson, former Minister of information and communication, the Chairman, Board of Directors of Guinness Nigeria Plc; Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede, former Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc and founder and chairman of Coronation Capital Limited; and Asue Ighodalo, a founding partner of the law firm of Banwo-and-Ighodalo and chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
The summit themed, Transformational Development in Nigeria: The Leadership imperative, was graced by many royal fathers and other dignitaries, including Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto; Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Oba of Oniru; Femi Otedola, Nigerian businessman, philanthropist, and former chairman of Forte Oil; and Yinka Folayiwo of the Yinka Folawiyo Group.
