TRUST MUST BE EARNED, NOT DEMANDED, WALE AJANI TELLS NIGERIAN LEADERS

Former President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and public affairs analyst, Comrade Wale Ajani, has challenged Nigerian leaders to rebuild public confidence through ethical conduct, accountability, and transparency, insisting that public trust cannot be demanded but must be earned.

Ajani made the call while serving as discussant at the Quarter Two Leadership Lecture Series organised by the Alumni Association of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (ACLSD), where stakeholders examined the theme, “Ethical Leadership: Rebuilding Public Trust.”

According to him, years of unfulfilled promises, weak accountability mechanisms, and perceived injustice have deepened public skepticism towards leadership and public institutions across the country.

“Trust cannot be demanded; it must be earned. Ethical leadership is the pathway through which leaders can regain the confidence of the people they serve,” Ajani stated.

The former youth leader stressed that leaders at all levels must demonstrate integrity, fairness, and responsibility in both public and private conduct, warning that governance becomes increasingly difficult when citizens lose confidence in institutions.

“To move Nigeria forward, leaders must consciously rebuild trust through their actions, decisions, and commitment to the public good,” he said.

Ajani, who is also the Accord Party Senatorial Aspirant for Oyo Central, further identified leadership failures, weak institutional structures, voter disengagement, and the growing disconnect between leaders and citizens as major obstacles to democratic accountability and good governance in Nigeria.

The lecture featured a keynote address by renowned leadership scholar and development practitioner, Dr. Sani Abubakar, Managing Director of West Africa Minerals and Mining Company Limited, who argued that ethical leadership remains indispensable to nation-building.

Dr. Abubakar described empathy as one of the most critical qualities lacking in contemporary leadership, noting that many of Nigeria’s governance challenges stem from leaders’ inability to understand and identify with the realities of the people they govern.

“One of the greatest problems confronting leadership in Nigeria today is the absence of empathy and sympathy. Ethical leadership is about understanding the people you lead, identifying with their realities, and making decisions that reflect the common good,” he said.

Drawing lessons from global icons such as Nelson Mandela and Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, Abubakar maintained that nations thrive when leaders place service above personal interests and demonstrate consistency between their words and actions.

He also linked insecurity, social unrest, and the growing influence of non-state actors to feelings of exclusion and declining confidence in government institutions.

“When people feel excluded from governance and believe the system does not care about them, they begin to seek alternatives outside the state structure. Ethical leadership helps to bridge that gap by restoring confidence and creating a sense of belonging,” he added.

Using the example of Major General Adetokunbo Fatimehin, the keynote speaker argued that ethical leadership is achievable and begins with individual conscience.

“Ethical leadership begins with conscience. It is about doing what is right, treating people fairly, and making decisions that benefit society rather than personal interests,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, President of the ACLSD Alumni Association, Dr. Chukwuemeka Okereafor, described the lecture series as a platform for sustained engagement on issues critical to national development and effective leadership.

The event commenced with a thought-provoking spoken word performance titled “Same Script, Different Costume” by theatre practitioner and communication strategist, Om’Oba Jerry Adesewo, who used poetry to highlight recurring governance challenges and the urgent need for transformational leadership in Nigeria.

During the interactive session, participants raised concerns about worsening insecurity, governance deficits, corruption, political accountability, and declining public confidence in institutions.

Dr. Alaba Adekunle expressed concern over rising incidents of kidnapping and violence across the country, calling for stronger leadership responses to the nation’s security challenges.

Other participants advocated stricter accountability measures for public officials, greater citizen engagement, and reforms aimed at strengthening democratic institutions.

In his closing remarks, Adesewo reiterated the need for ethical leadership at all levels of society, stressing that national transformation begins with personal responsibility and a commitment to integrity, accountability, and service.

Participants described the lecture as timely and insightful, agreeing that ethical leadership remains central to rebuilding public trust, strengthening democratic institutions, and securing Nigeria’s future.

The Quarterly Leadership Lecture Series is one of the flagship initiatives of the ACLSD Alumni Association, designed to promote dialogue, knowledge sharing, and leadership excellence among its members and the wider public.