By Olayinka Latona

LAGOS — Renowned business leader and former First Bank Chairman, Ibukun Awosika, has stressed that focused and visionary leadership remains critical to the survival of organisations and the transformation of Nigeria.

Awosika made the assertion at the Transformational Leadership Conference (TLC-26) held in Lagos to mark the 25th anniversary of Vision International Christian Ministries (VICM), where she highlighted the dangers of operating without a clearly defined vision.

According to her, while diversity of talent often brings multiple ideas, only a disciplined and well-articulated vision can sustain organisations through uncertainty. She warned that lack of clarity often leads to inconsistency and eventual failure.

“If there is no clarity, it is easy to give up and move from one thing to the other,” she said, advocating for leaders to document and test their visions to build resilience and long-term success.

Also speaking, founder of Daystar Christian Centre, Sam Adeyemi, identified poor execution—not weak strategy—as the major reason organisations fail. He stressed that leadership credibility is built on trust, integrity, and the discipline to act consistently.

“If people don’t trust you, they won’t follow you,” Adeyemi said, noting that effective leadership is essential for both public and private sector growth in Nigeria.

In his remarks, VICM President Francis Olubambi called for a shift away from title-driven leadership to purpose-driven action. He emphasized that leadership should be measured by decision-making precision and consistency rather than position.

“Focused leadership is built on clarity of vision, strength of character, disciplined priorities, and commitment to what truly matters,” he stated, while also unveiling his book Raising The Bar of Excellence in Leadership.

Reviewing the book, VICM board member Benson Osieme underscored that excellence is rooted in values, warning that leadership without integrity is unsustainable. He urged a move away from transactional leadership to one anchored on service, humility, and empowerment.

Adding a cautionary note, Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Lagos, Yemi Davids, warned leaders against pride, complacency, and poor counsel. He stressed the importance of humility and discernment, noting that leadership failure often begins with listening to the wrong voices.

International speakers also lent their perspectives. President of International Christian Ministries (ICM USA), Dave Champness, likened leadership to piloting in low visibility, urging leaders to rely on tested principles rather than emotions. He emphasized self-leadership, servant character, and succession planning as pillars of lasting impact.

Similarly, in a recorded session, Life.Church founder Craig Groeschel challenged the allure of flashy leadership, advocating instead for consistency and discipline.

“Boring beats brilliant every time,” he said, stressing that small, consistent habits are key to achieving lasting results.

The conference collectively underscored that Nigeria’s path to sustainable development lies in disciplined, value-driven, and purpose-focused leadership across all sectors.