VICM calls for rebirth of moral principles to tackle Nigeria's governance woes

Francis Olubambi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vision International Christian Ministry, is urging leaders in Nigeria's public and private sectors to revive strong value systems to tackle the country's persistent leadership and governance challenges.

This call was made during a media briefing to unveil activities marking the ministry's 25th anniversary and the forthcoming Transformational Leadership Conference 2026, which aims to address Nigeria's transformation through a shift in values.

Olubambi emphasized that Nigeria's transformation depends on a shift from materialism and mediocrity to values such as integrity, character, and selfless service, stressing that service to humanity is essential in leadership.

He also called on Nigerians to cultivate values for excellence and the restoration of strong value systems, including respect for life and for one another, and to stop celebrating mediocrity and materialism.

Olubambi lamented the trend of religious institutions allowing societal pressures to influence their direction instead of shaping the moral consciousness of society, and urged leaders to prioritize societal impact over personal financial gain.

Established in 2000 as a non-profit leadership development consortium, Vision International Christian Ministry was founded on the belief that the strength of organisations and nations depends on the quality of their leadership.

Over the past 25 years, the organisation has focused on closing leadership gaps by promoting values-based leadership and excellence, operating across 19 countries in West and Central Africa and reaching more than two million leaders.

The organisation has trained an average of 100,000 leaders annually through conferences and leadership programmes that impact churches, businesses, government agencies, and communities.

Rev. Benson Osieme, a board member of VICM and Vice Chairman of the conference, noted that the theme of the forthcoming Transformational Leadership Conference 2026, "Focused Leadership," reflects the urgent need for purposeful leadership in Nigeria.

Osieme stated that a lack of focus among leaders has contributed to many of the country's enduring problems, and that focused leadership is the answer to many of the challenges in Nigeria.

Nigeria needs focused leaders at all levels, according to Osieme, who added that the society can only improve when leaders get it right and understand time and seasons.

The Transformational Leadership Conference 2026 is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Yard 158, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, and will be free for participants as part of activities marking the organisation's 25th anniversary.

The event will bring together prominent local and international leadership experts, including Dave Champness, David Ashcraft, and Craig Groeschel, alongside Nigerian speakers such as Dr. Sam Adeyemi, Dr. Emmanuel Oluwayemi, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, and Pastor Yemi Davids.

Reflecting on VICM's journey, Olubambi said the organisation has built strategic partnerships with global leadership bodies, including John Maxwell's EQUIP, the Global Leadership Network, and Rick Warren's Purpose Driven initiative.

These partnerships have enabled VICM to adapt world-class leadership resources to local contexts, and the ministry is intensifying its call for local partnerships while strengthening its four core pillars to expand its impact and reach in the years ahead.