RECESS
The matters of concern in Africa have evolved from interests of communities to entire communities of interests. The challenge to take up leadership in Africa over this period (1950-2000) was complicated by the lack of precedence and compounded by lack of development of leadership over the years. Eventually dominant theory prevailed whether it was the best in the circumstances or not. The lessons for leadership in Africa during this period are important filters for future actions.
During the intense years Leadership was faced with diversified and difficult organization challenges that needed more than just political will, resolutions and agreements to manage. There was need to run government and manage national affairs of corporate nature using structured organization and order.
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Leadership development is definitely a matter that demands immediate attention as the “intense years” of so much happening in Africa have shown. The current demands on leadership in Africa are not about to become any lighter in future. Will leadership in Africa be prepared? How do we get leadership prepared?
One of the bigger challenges for leadership in Africa during the latter part of the intense years was organization change and leadership succession; transfer of the reigns of power to new teams of management. The succession of failure or failure of succession of the process provides strong indications of the absence of leadership development over that period. The collapse of “successful” institutions also leaves the question of leadership development begging. The concept of failed states is really a serious indictment on leadership development in Africa. Leadership in Africa, on the threshold of the third millennium, may ignore leadership development at the cost of its own demise as a land with a right to self-determination.
END OF THE SECOND DAY
It has been a long day without a fairy tale ending. This reality check will prepare us for the coming day. Leadership options for the future do not lie in the past. In learning from history, leadership must focus on creating hope and taking advantage of opportunity presented by tomorrow. During this recess we will consider some interventions and understanding that will help us address the third day.