YALI RLC: My Experience (Day 4)

The 27th day of September 2017 which was the 4th day of YALI RLC, Nigeria Cohort 3 leadership training, was a day filled with a lot of activities. Just like Monday and Tuesday, physical exercise was done by everyone either on the field or in the room. Afterwards, we had breakfast. I saw some participants taking either oats or pap with bread. I never knew people take such a combination until this day; I wondered how it tastes, and I thought I may, maybe the next day, also try it, but unfortunately, I never did. Who knows if it's sweeter like that?

Dr. Joseph Darmoe, after having anchored the proper reviewing of 'Invictus', started his final lecture titled 'Culture and Leadership' by describing culture as the learned beliefs, values, rules, norms, symbols, and traditions that are common to a group of people. He argued that part of being an effective leader is understanding business, political, and cultural environment worldwide; and that leaders should, as much as possible, gather knowledge, honor 'face', be adaptive, reduce anxiety, be empathetic, and communicate appropriately.

Dr. Uwem Akangson continued his presentation on 'Leadership and Accountability'. He said everyone is unique in his or her own way, and leaders must be able to make positive use of everyone's uniqueness. He further stated that there are different styles of leadership: extroverts and introverts. The extroverted-type-of-leaders are those who are more people-oriented than purpose-oriented, while the converse is the case of the introverted type. A good leader should be able to balance both orientations – purpose and people – as well as he or she can. He made us realize that teamwork, abilities, values, diversity, power and authority, coach, mentor, trust and support, are fishes that, when moving together, especially in the same direction, no shark, regardless of its size, can devour any or all of them. In a video he showed us to wrap up his presentation, was "management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things." But I think we should be able to do the right things right!


The day became more interesting when after we had had lunch, began debating. The team that defeated the other team in the first debate, debated with the team that also defeated another team in the second debate. It was a real war. (They call it ‘jaw war’ in my alma mater, the prestigious University of Ibadan.) At the end of the day, the team, 'it-is-now', defeated the other team, 'time-is-needed'. Both teams were given some prizes for their excellent performances. Kudos to Elizabeth and IfeOluwa from Nigeria, and Noah from Togo who made up the winning team!

Sadly, Doctors Joseph Darmoe and Uwem Akangson were through with their parts of the training and were leaving us. It was as though they shouldn't, especially Dr. Uwem Akangson who's just absolutely phenomenal at lecturing and carrying out fantastic presentation. (I began missing this man already, and I cogitated and enunciated to myself “he's got to have me mentored!”) However, they had to go, since they were done with their assignments. Ours was to make the most of what we've been thoroughly thought by them. They really were exceptional!

The electoral commission was finally constituted!

There weren't as many options for dinner as there were the previous days, but the meal was absolutely OK.

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