Access Bank leads innovation advocacy to transform Nigeria’s leadership

Access bank Plc has led the call for Nigeria to adopt innovative approaches in its bid to transform its leadership for a better, prosperous society. The Chief Executive Officer/Group Managing Director, Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe made the call while speaking at the 2nd Access leadership conference held in Lagos. According to Wigwe, the question around leadership and innovation is perhaps more pertinent in Nigeria today that just had a successful transition into a new leadership.

He said: “If we can change the world with very simple question, what if? What if our literacy rate in Nigeria is 100 percent? What if everyone in Nigeria had access to education? What if the fight against malaria and HIV was won? What if our infrastructure enabled economic success and opportunities for all Nigerians? And the banking industry could contribute to all these lofty goals by providing the best quality products and services at the cheapest prices for all Nigerians.

This conference will enable each and every one of us to ask the question, what if? The question around leadership and innovation is perhaps more pertinent in Nigeria today that just had a successful transition into a new leadership.”

While noting that the conference brought together global business leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, politicians, civil society leaders to discuss important topics that affect all sectors, he added, “Despite the fact that there are global differences and economic challenges all over the world, there are also significant opportunities which we must all grasp both for home grown talents and for international investors. Whereas such an environment may bring its own challenges to the business world, we also know that such environment will create tenacious leaders, courageous politicians and innovative chief executives.

Leadership in a transformational world not only benefits from innovation, but it demands it. Innovation is no longer an option, it is an absolute necessity.” Earlier in an opening address, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode said: “We live in a world where transformation in every sphere of human endeavour is taking place at a dizzying pace. Since that historic feat when humans took a voyage to the moon, technology has so much developed that we now send man into the space. Just over a decade ago, mobile phones were almost unknown on this continent.

Today, there are over 160million mobile phone lines in Nigeria alone. It is a fact that we now use mobile phones to do almost everything from making phone calls to transferring money. “As the theme of this conference instructs, we must continue to innovate. We must always remind ourselves that for innovation to be meaningful, it must inform transformation.

This is what will bring about the transformational leadership in whatever spheres of endeavours we apply ourselves. And of course, ineffective and untimely innovation can only result in motion without movement, leadership without transformation. Those who refuse to innovate will vegetate. Indeed we live in an interesting times, an era when our abilities to influence the society depends very much on how we are able to bring innovate ideas to bear on our responsibilities.”

Source: Vanguard Business-By Jonah Nwokpoku