By Emmanuel Enebeli
WARRI/Nigeria: The Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Delta State Chapter, has called on professionals across the country to take the lead in rebuilding Nigeria’s institutions through ethical leadership, innovation, accountability and strategic collaboration, declaring that sustainable national development can only be achieved when strong institutions are driven by competent and principled professionals.
The charge formed the central message at the investiture of the 7th Chairman of APBN, Delta State Chapter, ESV. (Rev.) Lewis Afolabi, and the inauguration of a new Executive Council held on Tuesday at the Conference Hall of the Delta State Internal Revenue Service (DIRS), Warri. The event with the theme, “Professional Leadership and National Development: Strengthening Institutions for Sustainable Development.”
Speakers at the ceremony unanimously stressed that Nigeria’s future depends less on its natural resources and more on the strength of its institutions, the quality of its leadership and the commitment of professionals to uphold integrity and excellence in every sphere of national life.
In his address, the Chairman of the occasion and immediate past Chairman of APBN Delta State Chapter, ESV. (Rev.) Lewis Afolabi, described the investiture as more than a change of leadership, saying it symbolised a renewed commitment to advancing professionalism and contributing meaningfully to nation-building.
Congratulating the newly elected executive, Afolabi reminded them that leadership is a sacred trust that demands responsibility, accountability and selfless service rather than the pursuit of personal recognition.
He urged the new leadership to promote unity among the various professional bodies under the APBN umbrella, noting that collaboration across professions would strengthen the association’s voice on issues affecting governance, economic growth and national development.
According to him, the credibility of any professional organisation rests on transparency, accountability and ethical leadership, stressing that public confidence can only be sustained when professionals remain committed to integrity and responsible stewardship.
He also called for greater investment in continuous professional development, mentorship and leadership training to prepare professionals for emerging global realities driven by technology, innovation and changing workplace demands.
Afolabi further emphasised that professionals must remain custodians of ethical values, warning that competence without integrity weakens public institutions and erodes citizens’ trust.
Representing the First Deputy President of APBN and Chairman of the Occasion, Professor Muhammed Akaro Mainoma, former Chairman of APBN Delta State Chapter, Barr. J. O. Aikpokpo-Martins, described professional bodies as indispensable partners in governance and national transformation.
He said the country’s developmental aspirations would remain unattainable without strong institutions guided by competent professionals who place national interest above personal ambition.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Delta State Commissioner for Secondary Education, Dr. Kingsley Ashibogwu, said Nigeria stands at a defining moment in its history, insisting that the country’s greatest challenge is not the absence of natural resources but the need to build enduring institutions anchored on ethical leadership and professional excellence.
According to him, history has consistently shown that prosperous nations are distinguished by the quality of their institutions rather than the abundance of their natural endowments.
Drawing lessons from countries such as Singapore, Finland, South Korea and Rwanda, the Commissioner said visionary leadership, investment in education, meritocracy, innovation and institutional discipline remain the pillars upon which sustainable development is built.
He stressed that professionals occupy strategic positions in every society and therefore have a responsibility to strengthen institutions through integrity, accountability and excellence.
Ashibogwu maintained that while technical competence remains essential, it must always be complemented by strong moral character, warning that professional knowledge without ethical values poses significant risks to national development.
The Commissioner identified education as the bedrock of sustainable national transformation, noting that no nation can rise above the quality of its educational system.
He said the Delta State Government, under Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E. Agenda, has continued to prioritise investments in education through improved infrastructure, teacher development, digital learning, science education and technical and vocational training to prepare young people for the demands of the twenty-first-century economy.
Ashibogwu also challenged professionals to embrace emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, robotics and digital transformation, describing continuous learning as indispensable in an era of rapid technological change.
He called on APBN to deepen collaboration with government by providing evidence-based policy recommendations, promoting interdisciplinary research, encouraging volunteerism and expanding mentorship programmes for young Nigerians.
The Commissioner further unveiled a seven-point agenda for the Association, urging it to champion ethical leadership, strengthen collaboration among member bodies, invest in capacity development, institutionalise mentorship, engage governments through constructive policy advocacy, embrace innovation and expand community service initiatives in education, healthcare and youth empowerment.
Also speaking, the Special Guest of Honour, Chief (Hon.) Solomon Igrakpata, represented by a Director of the Delta State Internal Revenue Service, said every society aspiring to achieve sustainable progress must deliberately strengthen its institutions.
He observed that durable development can only be realised where institutions are founded on accountability, professionalism, transparency and effective leadership, urging professionals to remain committed to nation-building through ethical service.
The event also featured the formal investiture of ESV. (Rev.) Lewis Afolabi as the 7th Chairman of APBN Delta State Chapter and the inauguration of the new Executive Council, which pledged to promote professionalism, institutional excellence and greater collaboration among member professional bodies.
The ceremony attracted presidents and chairmen of professional associations, senior government officials, captains of industry, academics, traditional rulers, business leaders and other stakeholders, all of whom reaffirmed the critical role of professionals in shaping public policy, driving economic development and strengthening democratic institutions.
The investiture concluded with a renewed commitment by APBN to position itself as a strategic partner in governance, policy advocacy and human capital development, while championing professionalism, ethical leadership and institutional reforms as indispensable pillars for building a more prosperous and sustainable Nigeria.
