Leadership is not always measured by the noise a leader makes, the convoy that follows him, or the luxury that surrounds his office. Sometimes, the most powerful leadership is quiet, focused and result driven.
This is the emerging story of Prof. Sanusi Avidime, the Chief Executive of the Kogi State Polytechnic, whose leadership style appears to place projects, infrastructure, staff welfare and students’ academic environment ahead of personal comfort and status.
Since assuming office about Eight months ago, expectations may naturally have been high. As the head of a major tertiary institution, many would expect the occupant of such an office to immediately upgrade his personal lifestyle, including acquiring an exotic official vehicle befitting his position.
But Prof. Avidime has chosen a different path.
Rather than making personal luxury a priority, he has continued to use the Hilux vehicle handed over to him while directing attention toward the institution and its immediate needs. It is a simple but powerful demonstration of a leadership philosophy: put the institution first and let the results speak.
One of the visible results is the transformation of the institution’s library. Under his leadership, the library has received significant attention and a new look, with the objective of creating a more conducive environment for learning, research and academic development.
For an institution whose primary mission is to produce knowledge and skilled manpower, investments in libraries, learning facilities and academic amenities are investments in the future of its students.
Prof. Avidime has also embarked on the provision of boreholes at locations, including hostels and offices, where access to running water is required.
These may appear to some as ordinary projects, but to students living in hostels and staff working in offices without reliable water supply, the projects are fundamental improvements that directly affect their daily experience.
It takes a leader with a broad sense of responsibility to understand that institutional development is not only about grand structures. Sometimes, providing basic amenities can make the greatest difference.
Prof. Avidime may not be the loudest administrator in the public space, but his activities in the Polytechnic are increasingly generating their own publicity.
Several projects are reportedly ongoing across the Lokoja and Osara campuses, reflecting an approach that prioritizes institutional development and the creation of a better environment for teaching, learning and research.
His humility and relatively quiet disposition should not be mistaken for inactivity. In fact, his leadership provides a reminder that a leader does not necessarily have to make the loudest announcements when the projects on ground can make the loudest statement.
These developments also complement the broader efforts of the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in the education sector.
A government’s record is not built by the governor alone. It is strengthened by the performance of the heads of institutions, commissioners, administrators, and other public officials who translate government policies into tangible results.
In this regard, the leadership being provided at the Kogi State Polytechnic under Prof. Avidime is significantly contributing positively to the education sector record of the Gov Ododo administration.
By focusing on infrastructure, amenities, academic facilities, staff welfare, and students’ welfare, the Polytechnic is becoming a stronger reflection of the government’s commitment to improving education in Kogi State.
Eight months may be a relatively short period in the life of a tertiary institution, but it can be long enough for a focused administrator to establish a clear direction.
For Prof. Avidime, the message appears straightforward: less emphasis on personal status, more emphasis on institutional progress, less noise, more work, less self-interest, & more service. With current development, one can say the Kogi State Polytechnic is undoubtedly in a safe hand, contributing significantly to the record of Governor Ahmed Ododo’s administration in the education sector.
– Abdulhameed Ivavah writes from Ajaokuta LGA, Home of Steal.
