Leadership, Integrity, and the Nigerian Problem

A Chairman’s Address Delivered at the 3rd Annual Conference of the Association of Productive Empirical Psychologists of Nigeria (APEPN), Niger Delta University Held on Tuesday, 13th May, 2025 at the University Main Auditorium, Gloryland Campus, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State by Prof. Steve Azaiki, PhD, DSc., OON

Distinguished Guests, Esteemed Colleagues, Honoured Speakers, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with a profound sense of duty and privilege that I welcome you all to the 3rd Annual Conference of the Association of Productive Empirical Psychologists of Nigeria (APEPN). As Chairman of this occasion, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your presence and commitment to the intellectual and civic enterprise that this gathering represents.

This year’s conference, themed “Leadership, Integrity, and the Nigerian Problem,” could not be more timely or urgent. We are convened not only as scholars, psychologists, policymakers, and leaders in our respective spheres, but also as citizens of a nation whose promise remains tethered to a set of interwoven questions: Why have we struggled with leadership that inspires and delivers? Why has integrity become a rare currency in our public and private institutions even as we find in cases such as the example of the former Governor of CBN, currently being prosecuted by the EFCC with court papers linking him to a vast number of choice properties in Abuja involving 735 duplexes and other apartments? Why do issues of minority rights remain unresolved in a nation built on diversity? Why has our multi-ethnic, multi-tribal, and multi-religious heritage — which should be a source of strength — become a trigger for division and suspicion? Why do structural imbalances persist, such as Bayelsa State having only 8 local government areas while Kano has 44, despite the fact that Jigawa and Katsina were carved out of the old Kano State — and yet still have more local governments individually than Bayelsa? And how might we, as custodians of thought and action, reframe the Nigerian problem to be not a dead end, but a starting point for reinvention? As intellectuals it is our responsibility to speak the truth and expose lies.

The approach of this conference is refreshingly holistic. Through a series of subthemes, we will unpack the many layers of the leadership and integrity deficit as they manifest in political, economic, social, cultural, educational, institutional, community, religious, and digital domains. Each of these domains mirrors and magnifies the structural and psychological fault lines of the Nigerian state.

Let us reflect for a moment:

Psychological Leadership speaks to the inner architecture of leadership — the character, moral compass, and emotional intelligence that should guide decision-making.

Political Leadership has too often been reduced to the pursuit of power for its own sake, rather than a platform for transformation.

Economic Leadership must reckon with how policies affect the common man, and whether our leaders have the foresight to grow an inclusive economy.

Social and Cultural Leadership highlight how values are cultivated or corrupted within our communities, traditions, and interpersonal systems.

Religious and Educational Leadership demand integrity, as these are institutions of conscience and enlightenment.

Institutional and Community Leadership remind us that leadership is not a title — it is accountability.

And finally, Digitalization and Leadership Integrity call on us to rethink governance, engagement, and influence in the age of algorithm and AI.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Nigerian problem is not without diagnosis — our libraries, media archives, and streets are filled with analyses, lamentations, and recommendations. What we require now is empirical clarity, moral courage, and actionable insight. Equally urgent is the need to revive our reading culture, which is fast deteriorating. A nation that does not read is a nation that forgets how to think critically and act wisely. In this regard, I urge us all — especially our scholars, students, and policymakers — to make active use of intellectual and cultural institutions like the Azaiki Public Library in Yenagoa. This multi-billion Naira investment, sadly underutilized, stands as a beacon of knowledge and cultural preservation, complete with a gallery, library, archives, and museum. The former National Librarian, Prof. L.O. Aina, once remarked that “the library stands as the best I have seen in our country. It is a gift to our country.” Similarly, the former President of the International Council of African Museums (AFRICOM) said of the Museum of Niger Delta & African Arts as “the most outstanding Private Museum in the Niger Delta, and in fact in the entire country.” Let us not allow such a treasure to waste away in silence. As Leonardo da Vinci rightly said “Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets,” so let us read, learn, and lead.

As an association grounded in productivity and empiricism, truth must not only be spoken to power — truth must now be spoken into possibility. We must ask: How do we translate psychological theory into national therapy? How can our research inform better leadership recruitment, training, and evaluation systems? How can we hold institutions accountable not just for failure, but for reform?

This conference is therefore not a mere academic ritual. It would be a reference point — a springboard for democratic deepening, for development with dignity, and for reimagining leadership not as a privilege, but as a burden of service carried with integrity.

As we engage, let us do so with rigor and hope. Let us remember that integrity is not a distant ideal; it is a daily choice. Leadership is not the preserve of a few; it is a distributed responsibility. And the Nigerian problem, while complex, is not insurmountable — if we commit to changing minds, systems, and structures with empirical insight and ethical conviction.

I welcome you all once again and wish us fruitful deliberations and impactful outcomes.

Thank you, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.