President of Vision International Christian Ministries, Francis Olubambi; General Overseer(GO) of Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Sam Aboyeji, among others, have called for innovative and strategic approaches to combat the challenges confronting the country.
They said that countries, especially Nigeria, need innovative leaders to meet the needs of the people, thereby fostering economic development among the people.
They spoke, yesterday, at the Transformational Leadership Conference, tagged “Innovative Leadership,” held in Lagos.
Specifically, Olubambi said that one of the best qualities of a great leader relates to his ability to respond rapidly to change, saying that over the years, the world has seen accelerated shifts and innovation in several aspects of technology, work environments and ministry, among others.
He said: “To lead 21st-century organisations, leaders must embrace change, position themselves to meet the needs of today and also plan to meet tomorrow’s needs too. Many heavyweight ministries and organisations have grown weak because they chose to hold on to tradition and view innovation as ungodly.”
Aboyeji, on his part, noted that the solution to the problem of coping with changes is innovative leadership. The country needs innovative leaders much more than before because the world is grappling with more complex problems now than ever before, which need a different approach to solving them.
Leader Pastor, New Estate Baptist Church, Rev Amos Achi Kunat, said that when one assumes responsibility of leadership, one’s contribution is expected to enhance progress towards achieving a given vision.
“The innovative leader is process-driven, forward-looking and consciously and constantly challenges the status quo. This makes him prone to criticism, resistance and opposition by people within the system who would instead maintain past or present wins due to fear of trying new things, laziness or having a traditional mindset.
Also, Lead Pastor, Global Impact Church, Yemi Davids, who spoke on “Leadership Innovation for Youth Integration,” noted that those who embrace innovation contribute to building resilient communities, driving sustainable development, and shaping a future marked by inclusivity and diversity.
He said: “Leadership innovation for youths is a strategic investment in the future. It empowers young leaders to be agile, visionary and socially conscious, ensuring they play a pivotal role in shaping a world that demands innovative solutions and collaborative leadership.”
