By Bukola Hameed
A former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, has urged school owners to be intentional in producing the next generation of leaders that will make things work.
The ex-commissioner made the call at a leadership programme organised by League of Muslim School Proprietors Worldwide, LEAMSP, Oyo State, held at De Aces Hall, Yemetu, Ibadan today.
He alluded to the fact that doing things the usual way can not produce expected unique results while discussing the topic, Quality Leadership Amidst Narrative Changes.
Hence, he urged all school owners and whoever engages in educational business, across the country to not relent in ensuring that quality education, ladden with good moral is passed unto the students. This, according to him is the only way to make this world a haven for all and sundry.
“Education is a profitable business, in that, if done passionately, it is a veritable instrument for the success of humans which transcends this ephemeral existence.
As such, it should be done with all tenacity for, our Creator is a God of excellence. That explains why He cherises and rewards excellence. So, excellence in teaching is also not an exception.
Education is a trust. It must be discharged with utmost sincerity and compliance. Every teacher, including lecturers, will be asked about this trust considering the five qualities of a trust, namely; it belongs to God, it is given by God, instructions of what to do with it are attached by God, doing it right gives you pride, and you shall account for it on the day of judgement before your Creator”, he submitted.
However, honourable Abdullateef entreated school owners as well as teachers and other stakeholders to be the best category of mankind who make things happen, not those who watch things happening and the ones who complain about how things are happening the way they are happening.
He wrapped up his discourse by encouraging proprietors to adopt “there’s no S in R mantra, meaning there must be no Sentiment in Recruitment. The key word is Meritocracy, not Nepotism.
Therefore the that, talent identificatin, talent engagement, talent deployment, talent motivation, talent development and talent retention must be put in place to guarantee productive and effective results.