Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has advised leaders in the church and various institutions to always act in faith and remain calm even in the face of crisis.
He gave the advice on July 17 at the 25th-anniversary conference of the Redeemer’s International Leadership Academy organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
Osinbajo gave a virtual address at the conference which had the theme: Winning in Adversity according to a statement by Mr. Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity.
The VP said leaders must and are expected to remain calm in the midst of adversity so that the people being led will follow in their footsteps. “it is in times of adversity or difficulty, or hardship that leaders are most relevant and most needed.
“The leader cannot afford to lose his cool or his focus. He must calm himself down and calm the people down as well,” he said.
He added also that “when all is well, there is no need for guidance, encouragement or instruction, but it is especially in the midst of wars, conflicts, insurgency, famines, danger, and fear, that people look to leadership.”
Making allusion to Moses and the Israelites in the Bible, Prof Osinbajo said, “Moses looked up to God for help and God spoke to Him. But note that Moses first gave the people confidence in the power of God to deliver and fulfill His promises.
“He had not yet heard from God on this particular problem, but because he knew the God he served, he was able to say this with confidence.”
The VP who is an alumnus of the academy further stressed the need for leaders to remain unruffled because “in adversity, especially where the future looks bleak, people want to give up, retreat, go back and they certainly don’t want to go forward.”
He urged his listeners to “obey in faith even when we are afraid. This is the burden of leadership, especially leadership according to the principles of scripture.”
The conference was attended by Pastor Josiah Bolarinwa, Assistant Continental Overseer, Research and Development of the RCCG, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, Intercontinental Overseer for Corporate Social Responsibility and Pastor in Charge, RCCG Region 20 and Pastor Banky Ladele, the Acting Rector RILA.
Others in attendance were: Mr. Kayode Pitan, CEO/Managing Director of the Bank of Industry; Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli, Managing Partner, Sahel Consulting; Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, Executive Director, Fate Foundation and Mrs Oluwatoyin Asiru-Balogun, the CEO TY Farm Place.