Snippets From 2023 UNN STRACEP  Ethical Leadership Lecture 

         BY JUDE OSSAI / ENUGU

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When Dr Casimir Ani, Director of Strategic Contact, Ethics and Publication (STRACEP) University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) extended an invitation to this reporter for media coverage of the lecture series, some weeks ago, one of the major things that struck him was the title of the event, “The Ethical Lecture: Celebrating the Ethics of Leadership Excellence and Values of Motherhood.”

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Curiously, he was one of the first callers at the office of the Vice Chancellor of the university where a courtesy call was scheduled for September 20, at 10 am by the organisers – STRACEP.

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The Chairman of the event and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barrister Ifeanyi Ossai, who represented his boss, Governor Peter Mbah as Special Guest of honor, Dame Virgy Etiaba,former Governor of Anambra state, her son, Chief Ben Etiaba, who later delivered keynote address, Professor Uche Azikiwe, wife of the Great Zik of Africa were some of the top dignitaries who visited the UNN Vice Chancellor, Professor Charles Arize Igwe. It was a prelude to the event proper which took place at Margaret Ekpo Convocation arena.

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Indeed, the title of the event was apt and instructive as it was a moment of celebration of motherhood values and ethics, especially for the Etiabas and women folks for whom Dame Etiaba, the first female governor in the country, represented at the occasion.

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The cadence and rhythm  of the famous Nsukka-Orba Ikorodo music and the dancers who were gyrating to the tune and pomp of the big event continued to turn the University into a carnival environment as the University celebrated its heights attained under the new ethics in higher education(EHE) which started rolling off the ground as the Management under the 14th Vice Chancellor signed a technical training agreement with the Geneva-based Globethics Consortium of Ethical Universities to train both staff and students on ethical orientation in teaching, learning and research.This was a 2014  ground breaking event that led to the establishment of the STRACEP office to handle ethical matters and issues to end the era of unethical behaviors in the first indigenous University in the country  notable as the “Dens of lions and lionesses”.

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Speakers at the event were in affirmation with researchers on Ethics, that when most people think of ethics (or morals), they think of rules for distinguishing between right and wrong. It is conduct that distinguishes between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.

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Obi, the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP) in 2023 general election was the cynosure of all eyes as he took the audience spell bound, x-raying societal decadence.

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He urged Nigeria leaders to embrace ethical leadership as a way of moving the country forward.

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According to him,  ethics was fundamental for any leader to succeed since it defines the character of the leader and he sustainably accomplishes the desires of the people.

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“Ethics is what defines your character, who you are, the only way Nigeria will move forward is for leaders at all levels  to embrace ethical leadership.

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“It’s unfortunate that many have failed in ethics, that is why if they lie, steal, kill or involved in any form of corruption it doesn’t matter to them, he said.

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The ex-governor of Anambra State decried the infrastructural decay in Nigeria universities as result of poor funding and said that if huge amount of money given to independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct 2023 general election was given to universities it would have been better.

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“Nigeria universities will have received first-lift in infrastructural if the huge amount of money given to INEC to conduct 2023 general election is invested in them,” he said.

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He commended UNN for the event aimed to celebrate ethics of leadership excellence and values of motherhood.

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“The award of ethical leadership and good motherhood by UNN to former  governor of Anambra State, the first female governor  Dame Virgy Etiaba is commendable.Mama Anambra, as she is fondly called by the public was inducted as a partner and fellow of ethical leadership Hall of Fame of the University, an honour Obi said she deserved it and more.

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Citation of Dame Etiaba drew ovation from the audience, a development that signified that it was a well deserved award. The convocation arena was thronged to overflowing with scholars, students, staff and traditional rulers such as the youthful new Igwe of Amaze Community, HRH Asadu Amaze.

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A native of Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, the Amazon’s educational career traversed institutions in Eastern, North Western, North Central and South-Southern geo-political zones of Nigeria as well as London, England.

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Recall that on March 17, 2006, Dame Etiaba was sworn in as the Deputy Governor of Anambra State following the validation of All Progressives Grand Alliance  (APGA) electoral victory in the 2003 gubernatorial poll by the Court of Appeal, making history as first female Deputy Governor in South-East and South-South zones. She was later sworn in as the Executive Governor of the state, making her first female governor in the country.

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The citation shows that Lady Etiaba is a woman of virtue, having served her home state, Anambra without blemish.

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“As the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Dame Virgy Etiaba aggressively developed all sectors in Anambra State simultaneously, investing the state’s resources in the areas of health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, security, even investing the state’s funds in Orient Petroleum as well as signing thousands of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)  without  a single allocation of land to herself or to members of her family. Till date, no file was ever opened for at EFCC or ICPC”, it reads.

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Also remarkably, Dame Etiaba while as governor, signed the Child’s Rights Law into an Act in Anambra State  and inaugurated ‘Suba Kwo Ibo’ due to perceived extinction of Igbo Language, a concept of Professor Pita Ejiofor a former Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The broadcast she gave in Igbo was an epoch making event meant to encourage our people to take over language more seriously.

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Dame Eitaba had in past bestowed with awards, as in recognition of her excellence and professional commitment to the upliftment of educational standard in the country, she has received several awards and honours including the Rotary International award for Excellent Vocational Service, Pillar of Education award, National Matron of National Association of Girls Guide, National Matron of Girls’ Brigade, and an award for being a Prime Motivator of sickle cell programmes in  South-East by the Orient Sickle  Cell Foundation.

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In January 2008, the Matriarch  was named by Nigeria’s National Daily as “Heroine of Democracy’ and in 2009, ‘The Icon of Democracy’ by Democratic Rights International.

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The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria awarded their ‘Fellowship’ to Her Excellency in Sokoto in July 2010, along side former President Shehu Shagari (now of blessed memory)

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Little wonder, Dame Etiaba was futher named as one of the Nigeria’s fifty ‘Women of Valour” in 2010 by the National Council for Women Affairs, Abuja.

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Dame Etiaba who was conferred with high ranking National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2014 has continued to receive awards with the latest from STRACEP.

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Speaking in a lecture titled: “Are Nigerians Getting What They Deserved From Democracy: The Roadless Travelled”, Chief Ben Etiaba, said that the issue of leadership failure in Nigeria was responsible for citizens inability to benefit from leadership dividends.

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“The country will only benefit from leadership dividends unless we alter the process of selecting our leaders.

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“When we have good leaders, there will be respect for human dignity, freedom to speak, equality before the law, safe and secured community, transparency, accountability and good economy, “he said.

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He said that government should be built on human beings that have the vision and dedication to embark on great voyage that would benefit the citizens.

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“Nations are built by altruistic men and women who have great vision to build better society for their countries.

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“Unless we have leaders with ability, integrity, commitment, vision, we can not succeed at nation building talkless of dispensing leadership dividends,”he said.

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He expressed appreciation to UNN management for finding him worthy to deliver the university’s 2023 Ethical leadership lecture

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“I thank the entire UNN management for finding me worthy  to deliver the  lecture on ethical leadership,’he said.

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In a remark the Vice-Chancellor of UNN Professor Charles Igwe said that ethical leadership was necessary in every form of leadership so that  the right thing would be done at every point in  time ‘no matter whose ox is gore”.

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“If the president presides well , the governor governs well, managers manage well, teaches well the society will be a better place for everybody, he said.

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Igwe commended STRACEP for organising the event which promotes ethics and good values in the society.

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Earlier, Dr Casimir Ani, the director of STRACEP said the directorate would continue to promote ethics to ensure that things were  done according to due process.

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Dr Ani said that the University will reach out through the STRACEP with external public and institutions to train and build the capacity of Civil servants and private sector employees  to deliver on increased productivity and efficiency implementation of public policy in a transparent manner.

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According to him, what the STRACEP is doing currently is to lay the academic and public foundations for the increased work of the EFCC,ICPC and the Citizen charter such as the one set up by the current Governor of Enugu,Barrister Peter Mbah, an executive bill which is the first such in the country.

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He said that the first female governor was chosen for the award of Ethical Leadership because of her good performance as governor on ethics.

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“Everybody knows Etiaba leadership in Anambra was good example of Ethical leadership and values of good motherhood,” he said.

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The Director commended Obi who in spite his tight schedule was present to chair the event.

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He commended UNN management for their wonderful support to STRACEP, which he said made it possible for numerous achievements of the directorate.