By Stephen Adeleye

The Permanent Secretary, Kogi State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Pastor Emmanuel Idenyi, has urged parents to be a role model to their children and instil leadership traits into them.

Idenyi gave the charge in his paper presentation, titled: ”Preparing Children For Quality Leadership”, which he delivered recently at the ”2021 Graduation, Speech and Prize-Giving Day”, of the Michael Omonogun Memorial Nursery/Primary School, Lokoja.

Idenyi described leadership ”as an art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants it done, adding that to be a visionary is to be a leader”.

The permanent secretary noted that the task of preparing children for leadership, remained the responsibility of both parents and teachers, stressing that the onus lies on the parents for obvious reasons.

According to him, leadership tends to indicate the innate ability of a child to gather different people and help everyone work together towards a singular goal.

”Every kid has the potentials to be a leader in some areas of his/her life. Many successful leaders today learned their leadership skills from the influence of Mentors.

”As parents, we have the opportunities everyday to be a role model to our children and instil leadership traits in them”, Idenyi said.

He further highlighted the necessary ingredients needed to cultivating leadership skills in children, to include: confidence and ability to believe in yourself, social/communication skills, be example, putting a team together, and be a family.

Others are: to allow children make decisions, carrying out domestic chores to develop humility, develop problem-solving skills in the child, get the child a mentor, reward optimism, similarity and difference, and exposing children to reading culture.

He further added that children should be nurtured with entrepreneurial spirit, be encouraged to blaze their own trail, surround them with leaders, good listenship, establish a strong financial practices, among others.

The permanent secretary noted that all parents want their kids to be successful and viewed them as courageous leaders, willing to take on any challenge.

”In as much as this is so, instilling leadership traits in children takes a lot of patience and practice”, Idenyi said.

The permanent secretary lauded His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello for his favourable disposition torwards education sector especially the establishment of CUSTECH Osara, and for accented the Kogi Education Law.

He further commended the governor for approving 20 per cent of the annual State budget to education, the prompt release of funds for all internal examinations and other notable feats, recorded by the present Government in the State.

Idenyi also eulogised the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Hon. Wemi Jones, for his innovative ideas, approaches and actions that had led to the speedy transformation of education in the state.

The pastor prayed God to bless the children with spirit of excellence to take them to higher heights, and be the pride to their parents, useful to their environment, communities and the society at large.

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