leading in new territory

Training Legal Aid group on sexual abuse campaign

As part of the Nigerian National Youth Service program, you’re obligated to a weekly meeting where you and your cohort discuss and implement initiatives that impact the community. I was posted to one called ‘Legal Aid’, somehow clumped in with lawyers. I am not the only non-lawyer, in fact there are quite a few of us, and since a group can reach up to a hundred people, it necessitates a leadership team called the 'Excos'. As a residing exco member, almost every week for the past several months, I’ve stood before the CDS (Community Development Service) group, addressing them on various matters.

It’s common practice to avoid attending meetings and especially taking on leadership positions because it means saying goodbye to all attempts of clandestine operations during your service year because now you’re in the limelight and the officials even know you by name, which also means when you're absent, you could possibly be queried. At my first CDS meeting, the then excos were deliberating a matter then solicited input from the rest of us. My attempt to keep my mouth sealed at all cost was decimated when someone’s illogical suggestion was quickly becoming policy. My vow of silence was broken when I followed protocol by standing and speaking for literally no more than 10 seconds, giving my rebuttal. Well, apparently that was all they needed. Next thing I know I’m occupying the seat of the Vice President following a brief election. Wait a minute…what just happened?! I was suppose to stay underground while pursuing projects with Blessing O. Foundation, but alas, I was unveiled. Soon I came to see the plausible integration of the group's mandate and that of the foundation. It was beyond feasible; a beautiful orchestration. It was this group I later trained to infiltrate the schools in the town to educate students on child sexual abuse. The foundation’s campaign objectives would be achieved using this medium, and people were on board, or so I presumed. 

Mom and Legal Aid educating students on child abuse during morning assembly

I’ve been privileged to lead some eclectic groups over the years, but this was my first experience leading Nigerian peers. After my first few meetings, I concluded that they are the most challenging. Few months into it, I’m changing my mind because I realized it was my paradigm that needed shifting, not necessarily theirs. Initially I wanted to title this post- ‘Motivating the unmotivated’, but I was humbled by an epiphany as I reread my first draft.

A corp member presenting to a school at morning assembly

I wanted to start this post by saying, motivating the unmotivated is perhaps one of the more challenging aspects of leadership. I sympathize with David in the Bible when the men under his authority were disgruntled, discouraged, depressed, and the list goes on and on. Talk about pulling teeth. This service year I’ve swallowed the bitter pill of trying to envision a people who just don’t want to be there. I can’t blame them for this attitude because I, too, tried to escape this obligation, plus the youth service prosaic activities and administration can be very frustrating, giving one more justification of doing the absolute minimal possible.

Another aspect of my leadership challenge was their facial expressions. I think we, Africans, are known for our flamboyant expressions, or lack thereof. At times it seems the expression of happiness can be concealed behind the expression of dullness, and I don’t really understand this, but that’s beside the point. When I stand before my fellow corpers to address them, I stare in the face of blank stares, and maybe this is normal? Honestly it threw me off internally the first few times, until I began hearing what people thought and said of me behind my back, thankfully, mostly encouraging things. It sure didn’t show in their expressions. As I type this I'm simultaneously aware of my need for affirmation, especially when uncertainty knocks at your gate because I endeavored into an unknown territory.

To end this post more appropriately, I will share my epiphany- leaning on people’s affirmation as a source for relevancy is building a house on quick sand (because let’s be honest- stamps of approval dashed out in form of facial expressions or words of affirmation is a form of validation). This isn't necessarily a negative ideology, but if one cannot stand on conviction alone when addressing a people or taking action, the resistance, be it reality or perceived, will knock one down eventually. Conviction is the common thread that wove William Wilberforce and Dr. MLK together, a century apart. Conviction is critical and perhaps one of the fundamental ‘make or break’ of rising leaders.