Kaduna: The Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, says Nigeria must recognise the value of women’s participation in leadership and nation-building.
Usman spoke during a conference on Queen Amina, organised by the Nigerian Defence Academy, with the theme’ Leadership Strategy and Nation Building: Lessons for Contemporary Leaders in Nigeria’, on Thursday in Kaduna.
Bala-Usman was, however, represented by the Special Assistant to the President, Delivery and Coordination, Farida Sada.
She stated that leadership was not the preserve of any particular gender and cited the contributions of women in Nigeria, as well as on the African continent, to leadership and nation-building.
She also urged policymakers at all levels to adopt the legacies of previous iconic figures in their quest for nation-building.
According to her, the seminar was particularly significant in the current security landscape of Nigeria, which was facing numerous challenges that require strategic leadership and innovative solutions.
She explained that for Nigeria to overcome its contemporary security challenges, policymakers must take a cue from history and use it as an avenue to learn from the successes and failures of previous leaders.
Bala-Usman said, “I would like to encourage contemporary leaders to draw inspiration from Queen Amina’s leadership strategy and apply the lessons learned to their contexts.
“Queen Amina’s story is a testament to the pivotal role women have played in shaping the course of history.
“From Queen Bilqis, also known as Sheba in the Bible, to Cleopatra in ancient Egypt, and the fearless Amazons of Dahomey, women have consistently demonstrated leadership acumen, strategic thinking, and bravery in the face of adversity.
“These women have shown us that leadership is not the preserve of any particular gender, but rather a quality that can be cultivated and honed.
Bala-Usman identified numerous examples of women who had made significant contributions to leadership and nation-building in Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
These, she said, included: “Queen Njinga of Ndongo and Matamba, who resisted Portuguese colonization in Angola, is a notable example.
“Yaa Asantewaa, the queen mother of the Ejisu people in Ghana, who led the Ashanti rebellion against British colonial rule, is another.
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, a Nigerian educator and women’s rights activist who fought for women’s suffrage and education, is a role model for many.
“And Wangari Maathai, the Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel laureate, who promoted sustainable development and environmental protection, is an inspiration to us all.”
According to her, there is a need to draw lessons from history and the experiences of iconic figures like Queen Amina, as well as learn from the contributions of women like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
She listed others, including Amina Mohammed, amongst several others, adding, “the Nigerian Armed Forces will no doubt add value to its current leadership contributions in nation building.”
Bala-Usman described the seminar as timely, which would add value in addressing the country’s security challenges.
In his welcome address, Commandant of the NDA, Maj.-Gen. Abdul Ibrahim said the academy was committed to playing a leading role in shaping the next generation of leaders in Africa.
He stated that Africa was at a critical juncture in its development, facing numerous challenges that required effective leadership and strategic thinking.
“Through this conference and seminar, we aim to provide a platform for discussion, reflection, and learning, and to identify strategies and solutions that can help address the leadership challenges facing our continent, “he said.
Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion and former NDA Commandant, Maj.-Gen. Retired Ibrahim Yusuf said that the lessons from the lecture would be beneficial to future generations of leaders, enabling them to give their best to the country and humanity.
He urged leaders to uphold the virtues of bravery, commitment, and resilience, as exemplified by Queen Amina, to overcome the country’s challenges.
In his submission, Prof. Timothy Stapleton of the University of Calgary in Canada emphasized the need for further research to verify the accuracy of specific information related to Queen Amina.
In a remark, the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmad Bamalli said the lecture had laid the foundation for further discussions on the topic and emphasized the need for a documented history to support future research.
The conference aims to foster scholarly exchange, encourage inter-disciplinary research, and highlight the role of military leaders in shaping the socio-political landscapes from ancient times to the modern era.
