The Nigerian Institute of Management, yesterday, said Nigeria’s corporate existence is being threatened by the many leadership and governance challenges besetting the country.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, heralding its 2013 Annual National Management Conference, Mr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council, NIM, also stated that the country’s attainment of the Vision 20:2020 objectives is in doubt, unless the leaders and citizenry adopt a change of approach, strategy and governance style.

According to him, the country’s quest to rank among the top 20 economies by 2020 is very doubtful and may be unattainable, mainly because majority of the leaders and individuals in authority are not showing commitment and loyalty to the development of the country.

However, he said the objective of the Vision 20:2020 can be attained if every individual embraces hard work, loyalty and if good governance is entrenched in all spheres of the national life.

He said, “Nigeria can actually be very great. Vision 20:2020 is doable, good governance will help us in achieving it. We have all it takes — both human and non-human resources, from the country can tap. Bad governance is why we are still where we are in this country, despite the abundant resources at our disposal.

“The will and courage to do the right thing is our challenge in this country. We should strive to adopt an attitude of loyalty to the country, as this will lead to a situation whereby will have the good interest of the country in their heart.”

The conference, scheduled to hold at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, between September 15 and 17, 2013, has as its theme; ‘Essentials of Good governance in the progressive transformation of Nigeria,’ to be delivered by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio.

Olawale-Cole said, “The theme was chosen because the institute came to the painful and sad conclusion that more than ever before in the history of its existence, Nigeria needs an urgent solution to the many leadership and governance challenges besetting it which are threatening the nation’s corporate existence.

“Instead of sitting by, criticize government and trade endless blames on why the nation has come to this pathetic leadership crossroads, the Institute which believes in supporting government in finding solutions to the problems of governance is using the opportunity provided by the Conference to contribute its quota by proffering viable and workable roadmap to the leadership question through the focus on ways to deliver good governance to Nigerians.”

•Source: Vanguard.