By Bilesanmi Abayomi
A United States-based education consultant, Dr Evans Igho Akpo, has underscored the urgent need for transformational leadership as a catalyst for institutional and social change across Nigeria, with a specific focus on the Okpe Kingdom.
Delivering a keynote address titled “Transformative Leadership for Okpe Nation: Shaping a Future-Ready Community” at the 95th Founders’ Day celebration of the Okpe Union in Lagos on Friday, Akpo called for a reinvigoration of leadership values, unity, and a return to the collaborative spirit that once defined the Okpe people.
“There is an urge for a strategic repositioning of leadership values, practices, and unity among the Okpe people,” he said.
Akpo, Associate Dean at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas, identified key developmental challenges in Okpe Nation, including inadequate infrastructure, youth unemployment, poverty, environmental degradation, and erosion of cultural identity.
He warned that despite being of different magnitude, the cracks within Okpe society reflect parallels with historical tragedies like Rwanda, stressing that internal struggles, disunity, and loss of communal values threaten the future of the kingdom.
“The unity, honour, and communal strength that once defined the Okpe people are gradually eroding. These issues often go unnoticed and unresolved,” he noted, urging the community to pursue healing through honest dialogue and forgiveness.
He called on Okpe indigenes—home and abroad—to let go of past grievances, citing ancestral wisdom as a foundation for reconciliation.
“As we reflect on our journey, let us learn to forgive, not just those who openly opposed us, but even those who, in silence or distance, subtly undermined the cause we believe in. Forgiveness is our highest position, and it is the true strength of leadership,” Akpo said.
Call for Reform in Education, Governance
Highlighting deficiencies in education and infrastructure, Dr Akpo urged the Delta State Government to invest in curriculum reform that integrates vocational skills, digital literacy, critical thinking, and cultural preservation. He decried inadequate school facilities, a lack of learning resources, and limited access to tertiary education within the kingdom.
He also advocated the integration of the Okpe diaspora into development efforts and stronger public-private partnerships to tackle systemic issues.
“Education in Okpe Nation faces issues like inadequate funding, outdated curricula, and a disconnect from cultural heritage,” he said, adding that globalization is threatening the survival of the Okpe language and traditions.
Akpo further called for a leadership approach that embraces innovation, digital tools, and ethical governance, urging monarchs to play more active roles as cultural custodians and development drivers.
Shaping a Future-Ready Community
The scholar described transformational leadership as a vehicle for driving progress through shared vision, ethical modelling, mentorship, and intellectual stimulation. According to him, transformational leaders in Okpe must encourage critical thinking, question assumptions, and engage citizens in problem-solving.
“Can traditional legitimacy be blended with forward-thinking governance? Can we be one and find better ways to resolve our differences?” he asked, calling on leaders to promote a shared identity and long-term goals.
Akpo noted that a mindset shift is necessary to unlock the full potential of Okpe people, adding that change must begin with a renewed internal belief in unity, cultural identity, and collective progress.
“It is essential to recognize the inherent value and goodness within the Okpe people. By focusing on the positive threads within shared experiences, we can empower individuals and build a thriving Okpe nation,” he said.
He stressed the need to engage the youth as future leaders and to build a framework where the diaspora contributes actively to national and local development.
“The Okpe Nation requires the collective effort and commitment of its people, guided by principles of transformative leadership. One key tenet is a call to ethics, morals, and action,” he concluded.
Dr Akpo, a former Dean of Graduate and Online Programs at Warner Pacific University in Portland, Oregon, holds a doctorate in Executive Educational Leadership from Houston Christian University, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri.