Anyim,Waziri Decry Leadership Failure, Institute Crafts Learning For Displaced Children

Anyim, Waziri Decry Leadership Failure, Institute Crafts Learning for Displaced Children

In Abuja, a powerful convergence of voices recently underscored the urgent need for transformative leadership in Nigeria.

At the 2025 Leadership Public Lecture, Excellence Awards, and Appeal Fund for the Educational Rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Children in Benue State, former Senate President Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and former chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs. Farida Waziri, delivered impassioned critiques of Nigeria’s leadership crisis.

Both leaders lamented the corrosive effects of corruption and governance failures, which they argued have fueled violence, instability, and widespread displacement across the country.

The event, organized by the Leadership Institute of Nigeria in collaboration with the African Leadership Institute USA, was held under the theme “Africa at the Crossroads: Redefining Leadership for Global Relevance.” It brought together policymakers, academics, and civil society actors to reflect on the continent’s leadership trajectory and its implications for global relevance.

Senator Anyim, serving as chairman of the occasion, drew upon his long-standing engagement with governance to highlight how systemic failures have eroded trust and deepened Nigeria’s socio-political challenges.

Mrs. Waziri, echoing his sentiments, emphasized that corruption remains a root cause of insecurity, undermining the nation’s ability to protect its most vulnerable citizensLeadership.

Central to the gathering was the unveiling of an ambitious initiative by the Leadership Institute of Nigeria: crafting alternative educational pathways for children displaced by conflict, particularly in Benue State.

With thousands of families uprooted by violence, the Institute’s program seeks to provide displaced children with essential skills and structured learning opportunities. The initiative is not merely about literacy; it is designed to equip young learners with tools for resilience, empowerment, and future productivity. 

Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, President of the Institute, underscored the gravity of the crisis, noting that over 350,000 children in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps are suffering from severe malnutrition, with many at risk of permanent stunting. Against this backdrop, education becomes both a lifeline and a strategy for long-term recovery.

The lecture also served as a platform for broader reflections on Africa’s leadership challenges. Speakers stressed that the continent stands at a crossroads, where the failure to redefine leadership could perpetuate cycles of poverty, displacement, and marginalization. Conversely, embracing visionary, accountable governance could reposition Africa as a force of global relevance.

The appeal fund launched during the event aims to mobilize resources for the rehabilitation of displaced children, signaling a practical step toward addressing the humanitarian crisis.

This special report highlights the dual narrative emerging from the Abuja gathering: a sobering indictment of Nigeria’s leadership failures and a hopeful vision of education as a transformative tool for displaced children.

While Anyim and Waziri’s critiques underscore the urgency of reform, the Leadership Institute’s initiative offers a tangible pathway toward healing and empowerment. 

In the words of the conveners, Africa’s future hinges not only on diagnosing its leadership crisis but on crafting solutions that restore dignity and opportunity to its most vulnerable citizens.