“WE MUST FIRST SEE IT TO BUILD IT”: SAM ADEYEMI URGES NIGERIANS TO EMBRACE NEW MINDSET

VISIONARY LEADER CHALLENGES NIGERIANS, ADVISES LEADERS TO ACQUIRE LEADERSHIP SKILL

Strategic Leader and Consultant, Dr Sam Adeyemi has urged Nigerians to develop the capacity to visualize a greater Nigeria.

The leadership consultant and strategist made this known while featuring on a recent media appearance in Lagos, offering a compelling diagnosis to Nigeria’s current challenges — and a hopeful prescription for its future.

Speaking about the nation’s socio-political challenges and the path to renewal, Adeyemi called for a new national consciousness built on shared vision, empathy, and intentional leadership development.

THE VISION VACUUM: WHY WE STRUGGLE TO IMAGINE PROGRESS

He said that- “Provision is a compound word, which literally means ‘for vision,” explaining how “resources will always flow towards vision.” 

He pointed out that the lack of a shared national identity, unified values, and systemic citizen-building has weakened the potential to grow.

 “We are yet to agree on the kind of values or citizens we want to produce. That’s why we see people building private empires instead of a commonwealth.” he said.

THE DIASPORA KEY: A CALL TO GLOBAL NIGERIANS

Dr. Adeyemi emphasized the critical role Nigerians in the diaspora must play in reshaping the nation's future, noting that- "every country that developed after World War II relied heavily on its diaspora”, describing how some nations intentionally sent their youths abroad to absorb the right mindset of progress.

 

 CULTURE, RELIGION & POVERTY: THE CYCLE WE MUST BREAK

Dr. Adeyemi didn’t shy away from confronting the contradictions of spirituality and social realities in Nigeria.

“Religion can change culture — but culture can also distort religion. The same religions used to build thriving economies elsewhere are being used here to perpetuate poverty,” he said.

He warned against tribal and religious supremacy that deepens division, saying, “Some want their tribe or religion to dominate. That mindset fragments the law, the government, and ultimately, the nation.”

POVERTY VERSUS POLITICS: THE 2027 ELECTION DILEMMA

Reflecting on the state of poverty in Nigeria and its implications for upcoming elections, the strategic leader revealed how “Instinct for survival is the strongest in man,” noting that when a person is starving, morality loses meaning and ideologies crumble.

 LOVE AND INFLUENCE THROUGH SERVICE

Dr Adeyemi challenged religious and faith based institutions and citizens alike to act with compassion, stating that-

 “Love is a powerful principle for building influence, start with your neighbor, feed and serve someone.” he said.

Correspondingly, the Thought Leader also drew from biblical examples where food distribution was central to early church leadership, suggesting that Nigerians should begin to rebuild influence through simple acts of kindness.

“This is not just about criticizing politicians. We must embody the change we seek.”

LEADERSHIP AS A LEARNED SKILL: RAISING A NEW GENERATION

Dr Adeyemi stressed that effective leadership must be deliberately taught, not expected to emerge by chance.

“Leadership is a skill. It has to be learned. We don’t have a culture that teaches it and that’s why we bleed in leadership today.” he said.

He called for leadership development to begin early in life: “In countries that work, they start teaching leadership from kindergarten. Children learn service through volunteering. That’s how leadership values are built.”

He lamented the decline of legacy institutions like the Boy Scouts and Brigade, which he described to be pillars of civic education, but were now overshadowed by a culture that does not value service.

 A WAKE-UP CALL TO REBUILD NIGERIA.

Dr. Adeyemi’s message is clear, as vision is the seed of national transformation.

Without it, resources, leadership, and unity will remain out of reach. But with a collective mindset shift — from scarcity to possibility, from self to service — Nigeria’s rebirth is not only imaginable, it’s achievable.