The Institute of Education, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, in partnership with the Aderonke Foundation, has organised a two-day leadership development conference aimed at equipping academics, administrators and students with the skills required to provide effective leadership in a rapidly changing world.
The conference, themed “Re-Imagining Leadership: Key Strategies for Global Impact,” was held at the CBN Centre for Economics and Finance, Main Campus, Samaru, Zaria.
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Leadership, AI Take Centre Stage at ABU’s High-Level Conference
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, commended the Institute of Education for organising the conference, describing it as a significant initiative that would strengthen collaboration between the university and the Aderonke Foundation.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Raymond Bako, the Vice-Chancellor said the conference marked an important milestone in shaping the leadership capacity of senior academics, administrators and students, whom he described as the nation’s future leaders.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria would witness greater progress through the emergence of responsible and visionary leadership, while appreciating the Chief Executive Officer of the Aderonke Foundation, Dr. Aderonke Kujore, for her commitment to youth development and educational advancement.
The Vice-Chancellor also reaffirmed the university’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote leadership development and institutional excellence.
In his welcome address, the Director of the Institute of Education, Prof. Abubakar Muhammad Jumare, said the conference was conceived to strengthen leadership capacity within the university community, noting that effective leadership remains critical to institutional growth and development.
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He urged participants to apply the knowledge gained during the conference to improve governance, decision-making and service delivery within the university and beyond, while thanking the Aderonke Foundation for its sustained support.
Delivering a keynote presentation, the Chief Executive Officer of the Aderonke Foundation, Dr. Aderonke Kujore, described leadership as the ability to inspire people to pursue shared goals. She identified effective communication, empathy, sound decision-making, teamwork and the ability to unite people as essential qualities of successful leaders.
Dr. Kujore said the Foundation’s partnership with Ahmadu Bello University was a deliberate investment in developing transformational leaders capable of making meaningful contributions to society.
Also speaking, Prof. Siraj AbdulKarim of the Faculty of Public Administration described leadership as a multidimensional concept that has attracted diverse scholarly interpretations because of its central role in human development.
He noted that while some individuals possess natural leadership traits, others acquire leadership skills through learning and experience.
In a presentation titled “Technology and the Future of Higher Education,” the Head of the Department of Computer Engineering, Dr. Basira Yahaya, highlighted the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in teaching, research and university administration. She urged participants to embrace AI responsibly by ensuring its ethical application in leadership and decision-making.
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Another resource person, Alhaji Yakubu Adoke, stressed the importance of vision, strategic planning, effective execution and continuous monitoring in achieving leadership success. He encouraged participants to remain focused on their goals and lead with purpose.
In his closing remarks, the Director of General Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Malam Sani Abashe, described the conference as insightful and impactful. He commended the Institute of Education and the Aderonke Foundation for organising the programme and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to participate in discussions aimed at strengthening leadership capacity within the university.