The Africa Editor at the Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ), Mr Ajiboa Amzat, has identified poor leadership as the root cause of Africa’s socio-economic and political challenges, and called on young people to embrace servant leadership and ethical responsibility.
Mr Amzat, who is WikkiTimes co-publisher, disclosed this while speaking at a leadership conference hosted by the Press Club of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (PEN UDUS).
The editor, who represented CCIJ’s Executive Director, Prof. Jeff Kelly Lowenstein, charged youth leaders across campuses to rise above the failures of their predecessors.
He described the current leadership deficit in Africa as a major stumbling block to the continent’s development, stating that “the tragedy of Africa’s underdevelopment and political misfortune cannot be understood outside the poor quality of leadership imposed on the people for decades.”
“If Africa must catch up with the level of socio-economic and scientific advancement taken for granted in Europe and America, we must urgently hack into the leadership code that can transform our societies,” he said.
The speaker also praised the courage and professionalism of young campus journalists across Nigeria who have produced investigative reports despite institutional pushback.
He specifically commended students like Habibat Muhammed, who recently published an accountability report exposing how university authorities suppress campus journalism; and Sherefeeden Ahmad Sawe, Abubakar AbdulRasheed, Olamide Ayoade, AbdulWaheed Sofiullahi, and Olanshile Ogunrinu, all of whom have won national and continental journalism awards.
In contrast, he condemned the unethical behavior of some student leaders, including incidents of fraud, misappropriation of student union funds, and abuse of office.
“If young leaders on university campuses continue to behave with this level of irresponsibility and criminality, it signals danger for the future of this country and continent,” he warned.
The keynote focused on re-imagining leadership in Africa, drawing from classical and contemporary leadership theories. The speaker critiqued the traditional notion of leadership that glorifies coercive power, proposing instead a shift towards servant leadership, a concept advanced by Robert Greenleaf.
“We need youth leaders who embody the idea of servant leadership because the future of this continent depends on the quality of leadership offered by the youth,” he said.
He described servant leadership as people-centered and grounded in empathy, foresight, ethical responsibility, and a commitment to collective growth.
He outlined key traits he said youth leaders must embody, including empathy and active listening, moral responsibility and integrity, the ability to lead through collaboration rather than coercion, foresight informed by reflection on past mistakes, prudent management of resources, support for the growth of their peers, and a commitment to fostering a culture of mutual respect and public service.
The conference, attended by student journalists, union leaders, and academics, emphasized the crucial role of youth leadership in reshaping Nigeria’s democratic future.
He, encouraged student leaders to use their platforms not for self-interest but to serve, nurture and protect the collective interests of their peers.
“That is how you can make your campus better, your country great, and the continent of Africa greater,” he added.
