PORT HARCOURT – THE Dr. Brian Rueben (DBR) Conference convenced in Port Harcourt, Rivers state yesterday with stakehokders interrogating keys to business and leadership success.

Tagged “Strategic Elevation Conference 2026” with theme, “Positioning for Relevance, Influence and Impact”, the convener and global leadership coach, Rueben was joined by Fela Durotoye, Founder, Gemstone Group and real estate entrepreneur, My-Ace China in sharing experiences with participants.

Mounted by China to celebrate Reuben’s birthday in a hall filled by intermediate and upper middle level business leaders, each speaker interrogated a different pillar of leadership and market success.

China, Mayor of Housing, gave tips on market positioning while Durotoye spoke on ‘Narrative Authority: Controlling the Story that Shapes Influence’. The convener, Reuben, dwelt on ‘The Hidden Architecture of Market Leadership’.

Harping on inspiring nation building, Durotoye reflected, “Our job is being able to raise nation-builders, boosting their ability to do the best they can with what they have. That’s who a nation builder is and that’s what I do for a living. Raise nation builders.

“Find a problem you can solve, that you are gifted to solve, you have a passion for and find a way to be able to solve it. Because the Nigeria of our dreams is actually waiting inside you for the problem that you have not yet solved.”

Commending the celebrant, Durotoye said, “Dr. Brian Reuben could be anywhere in the world today, but he chose to be here giving of his life on a day he should have been receiving gifts. That tells you who a true leader is.”

Measuring prosperity as the person one sees in the mirror, China explained: “Marketing Rivers and Port Harcourt has been the key obsession of our business foray into the state, so we volunteered to host the event if only it would bring that value to Rivers people.

“Positioning is a concept of two things; who you are and where you are looking from. The prosperity in Rivers State is not the oil. The prosperity in Rivers is in the person you see in the mirror.”

He captured that one of the greatest epiphanies from the gathering was debunking “the fallacy that we have been told for generations untold, that we are the leaders of tomorrow.

“The truth and the light of what I’m living with is that our children, our youth, are not the leaders of tomorrow. They are the leaders of today.”

Espousing “Strategic Elevation” as being about rising above the noise”, Dr. Rueben, Executive Chairman of the 16th Council, said the event was “an eye-opener to many people.”

“Your results in life depend on your perspective. Your perspective depends on your strategic positioning. Strategic elevation is about rising above the noise of competition to conceive and perceive markets and people differently,” he explained.

Rueben warned, “Leadership is not just something reserved for those in high office. There is a place every one of us must come in. Leadership is taking responsibility from where you are.”

On youths development, he said: “It’s your responsibility as a young person to make a difference in your time. You cannot sacrifice your tomorrow for peanuts because someone is offering you something.”

From the floor of participants, Goodluck Esogwai, acknowledging the transformative appeal of the conference said, “Leadership is not about authority or position; it’s about influence, responsibility, and making decisive moves for positive change.”

Precious Nwokansu said her takeaway was that, “Anybody can be great no matter where you are coming from as long as you are strategic in looking for the right relationship that can put you in the position you are aiming.”

The conference closed with renewed calls for leadership, innovation and active citizenship, as participants pledged to apply lessons learned towards personal growth and community development.