Leadership has been described to be a tool to serve humanity but which has been misconstrued to represent service to self at the extreme detriment of those to be served.
Expressing the opinion is Barr (Mrs) Victoria Nlemigbo, a renowned football administrator, female football coach and woman champion.
She stated the view at Owerri, the Imo State capital, last week at the sideline after receiving an award of Doctorate degree conferred on her by the World Harvest Theological Seminary (WHTS), an affiliate of St. Thomas-a-Becket University Canterbury, England.
The event also marked the 16th Matriculation and 15th convocation ceremony of the institution. Nlemigbo was conferred with the award for her human capital development efforts and general services to humanity.
The former head of women football in the Federal Capital Territory for ten years and wife of the Imo All Progressive Congress (APC) advised leaders wherever they may be to “look beyond the ordinary from far and wide and understand the consequences of not doing the right and fair thing.”
Continuing, she said, “I advise them to turn the page and start delivering on their promises and do not relent in ensuring that the common man in the street is equally deserving of all the largesse that they alone are taking.’’
On what motivates her to serve mankind and grow talents she responded thus;
“I come from a spiritual school of thought which states that whatever you do to others you do to yourself. In order for you to prosper you have to help others to prosper and at the end of the day selflessness is the ultimate path and route to ultimate happiness.
“It is important that for one to create happiness he has to create happiness for others. I am motivated by my spiritual understanding of life and existence.’’
The President and Founder Women Football All Stars Association declared that the ‘’award means the world to me. I am extremely humbled that I cannot really express how I feel. It just came from nowhere because I wasn’t expecting’’
She dedicated the award to the Most High whom she thanked because according to her only the Creator can push anyone beyond his limit.
60-year Mrs Nlemigbo is still passionate and actively involved in female football where she plays, coaches and administers. She was the founder of UCON Angels Football Club, Secretary, Nigeria Players Union, FCT chapter, heads some NGO’s.
She is not comfortable seeing the girl child wasting in the street and believes in taking them from the street to the pitch which provides them the opportunity to build a career, get education and a means of livelihood.
On whether what she is doing is bringing her fulfillment she stated thus, “if I look at the children that I have touched their lives for good, they have made progress in their lives and education, even in placements in the establishments they work, yes I can say that I am actually fulfilled.’’
She received the award alongside Chioma Ajunwa, Nigeria’s Olympic gold medalist as well His Excellency Senator Ahmad Sani Yeriman, two time governor of Zamfara State.
