Olowo Advocates Values-Driven Leadership at Maiden Nigeria Leadership Dialogue

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), Dr. Rabiu Olowo, has underscored the need for resilient, purpose-driven and values-based leadership as a critical requirement for navigating the complexities of the 21st century.

Dr. Olowo made the call while serving as a key panelist at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Leadership Dialogue, organised by the Africa Leadership Initiative West Africa (ALIWA) under the theme, “Building Resilient Leadership for the 21st Century.”

Speaking during discussions on “Reimagining Leadership in a Changing World,” the FRC chief drew from his experience leading Nigeria’s apex financial reporting regulator, stressing that resilience, purpose and strong values must remain the foundation of leadership in an era characterised by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity.

According to him, institutions can only remain relevant and sustainable when leadership is shared across all levels rather than concentrated at the top.

He emphasised the importance of distributed leadership, noting that “every desk must have a leader,” while identifying trust, empathy and sacrifice as indispensable qualities for effective leadership and institutional performance.

Dr. Olowo further highlighted the need for leaders to build cultures that empower individuals, inspire innovation and strengthen accountability, particularly within the public sector where expectations for transparency and good governance continue to rise.

The high-level dialogue featured prominent leaders from both the public and private sectors, including Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman; former Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Dr. Demola Sogunle; Executive Director of Enough is Enough Nigeria, Yemi Adamolekun; and the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman.

Together, the panel examined evolving leadership dynamics and explored strategies for strengthening institutions and fostering sustainable growth amid rapidly changing global realities.

Dr. Olowo used the platform to reaffirm the importance of values-driven leadership in public institutions, stressing that building trust, managing reforms and promoting long-term development require governance frameworks anchored on the triple bottom line of people, planet and prosperity.

He noted that leadership in the modern era should transcend authority and hierarchy, urging leaders to embrace service, collaboration and shared purpose in delivering meaningful and sustainable impact.

As Nigeria continues to confront economic transformation and growing demands for accountability and transparency, the dialogue provided a timely platform for reflecting on the future of leadership and the role of institutions in driving national development.

For Dr. Olowo, reimagining leadership demands more than structural reforms; it requires a fundamental shift in mindset, systems and values capable of delivering enduring progress and strengthening the foundations of sustainable development.