Leadership failure responsible for Nigeria’s poverty capital rating – Centre LSD

The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (CLSD) has blamed leadership failure for Nigeria being declared the world’s poverty capital, with around 87 million people living in extreme poverty, compared to India’s 73 million, according to the World Poverty Clock.

Founding Executive Director of Centre LSD, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, who spoke at the 22nd graduation ceremony of Centre LSD, in conjunction with Konrad Adenauer on Saturday in Abuja, remarked that it is unfortunate that Nigeria was ranked in 2018 as the world’s poverty capital ahead of India and China, with a significantly larger population.

He called on the authorities to take a cue from India and China by implementing inclusive, pro-poor growth policies; fiscal policies that promote wealth redistribution; employment generation; public service provision; and social protection to remedy the situation.

“It is important to note that the population of Nigeria in 2018 was estimated to be about 195.9 million which is about 15 per cent of the population of India (1.353 billion) and 14 per cent of China (1.393 billion), yet it is competing with China and India in hosting the largest number of poor people in the world,” he said.

Stating that Nigeria and Africa stand at a crossroads because of leadership failure, despite the country’s plentiful human and natural resources, poverty, unemployment, and inequality remain widespread among its citizens.

He said it is paradoxical that Nigerians excel globally—in medicine, academia, technology, and business but yet struggle with poor governance and economic underperformance at home due to ineffective political leadership.

He disclosed that the quest to address the leadership deficit informed the decision to establish the Centre LSD Leadership School to raise visionary, strategic, and transformative leaders across the nation and continent, pro bono.

He added: “This is because we know that the progress, development and fortunes of organisations and nations depend on good leadership. Indeed, we were conscious of the fact that everything rises and falls on leadership.

“Leadership is one of the most important variables that affect the performance of any organisation, institution or nation. Study after study has shown that superior financial and organisational performance, as well as other forms of success, are linked to effective leadership. Scholars have opined that the success or failure of organisations and nations depends on leadership excellence and not managerial acumen.

“Across the world, there is evidence that inclusive economic growth and development are not products of chance—they are driven by leadership. Leaders set direction, create alignment, and inspire commitment. Nations that are prosperous today are those that had leaders who provided a clear vision, built strong institutions, and mobilised citizens towards productive engagement.