International Coaching Federation, ICF has called for full utilisation of life and corporate coaching to instill values in leadership and drive national development.

President, ICF Nigeria, Ajibola Ponnle made the call while speaking to journalists at the sideline of a seminar to mark the 20th anniversary of ICF in Lagos.

Ponnle said coaching is about human potential and how it could be developed to advance social and economic development.

She said: “One of the main reasons I spear-headed the establishment of coaching in Nigeria is because it is about human potential. I see a country that is rich in so many things beyond the natural resources, but see what we are doing with it.

“If we can coach and raise the level of awareness, of just one person at a time, unleash the potential, you can imagine how productive this entire nation or the entire continent of Africa can be.

“A lot of what we do with coaching is identifying who people really are and helping them let go of limiting beliefs. If we can help just one person discover himself, you can imagine the impact that is going to have on leadership, economic development. For me, I am passionate about leadership in the public sector, getting them to lead with values, getting to lead with increased consciousness and increased awareness of the impact of what they are doing.”

Also speaking, Vice President, Board of ICF, Adeboye Martins said: “Coaching has been found by PricewaterhouseCoopers to add 695 per cent return on investment to businesses. So, it is a high value profession and it has been doing wonders for companies all over the world in improving performance of executives, improving alignments with values and increasing creativity of the individual.