A Senior Lecturer at the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Prof Donald Ibama Hamilton, has called on leaders in the country to rise up to against corruption, weak rule of laws, among other challenges confronting the growth and development of the nation.
Prof. Hamilton made the call while delivering his inaugural lecture at the 77th inaugural lectures organised by the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, with the topic: ‘Strategy Making: Rocket Science’ with a charge for Nigeria leaders, relevant stakeholders to  wake-up and fight corruption so as to address the high level of corruption index in the country.
Hamilton, who is a Professor in Business Policy and Strategy, further stated that there were well built virtual rockets that are scattered all over the place without a focused target to it’s destination.
“We have well built rockets littering everywhere because they are not fired through the proper destination. When you build a rocket, you have to have a destination for it to go, but if you build a rocket and you want to feel the rocket, that rocket will not get there as a result of corruption, weak rule of laws, among other challenges bedeviling the country, otherwise we are all doomed.
Citing a broken map of Nigeria, where the virtual rocket is sitting right on the broken space on the ground, he called on Nigerian leaders to fix the launch pad, the structure, saying: “There must be a fit between strategy and structure, adding that since the fit is not there, as such no matter how hard you try, the virtual rocket will not fly because it is sitting on the ground.
He described double taxation as a minor challenge confronting the country that can easily be sorted out by legislation.
On the issue of Managers and abuse of power, he explained that those who have power wished they have more as one sees everything good about it, but if power is used against such a person, he sees power as evil.
He said: “ As a husband you must exercise authority over your family, but in doing that your wife may feel you are too authoritative, but that does not mean that you shouldn’t at some points listen to what she is saying’’.

“In fact the greatest craving of a human being is to be respected no matter how small the person is, otherwise the person may not be able to do he or her job well. Afterall cleaner today can become a manager over the boss tomorrow,” the Prof added.

Hamilton described leaders as humble people, they are servants, saying: “Most times some leaders mistaken humility to bringing themselves down to the level of subordinate no, thinking that way is arrogance not humility. Why should you think you are better than anybody just because you are the manager and the person is your subordinate? The role can reverse, so we need to understand that.”

On his part, the Chairman Senate Lectures Committee, Prof Ikem Eweozor in his vote of thanks, stated that strategy making is like launching a virtual rocket, while commending the erudite Inaugural Lecturer for the interesting lecture delivery.

Earlier in his welcome speech, the RSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Nlerum Okogbule stated that an inaugural lecture is an important occasion for those in academics, adding that it is an opportunity for them to showcase to the world the research that they have been able to carried out over the years as professors in the university.

He stressed that it is also an opportunity for them to showcase what they have done to better not just to the university, but also to the outside world, such as the policy makers, those in government and industries as well as been able to proffer solutions on how best to improve on the society that would in turn promote the work done by the academics in the university.

“It is also an opportunity for the professor to tell the world what he has been doing and the contributions he had made to the development of society at large. More importantly when we have a number of challenges as a nation, we need to refer to Professors to be able to see whether we can find any solution to solve some of those challenges.

“Our last inaugural lecture for example, dealt with environmental pollution, which is a problem, challenge to us, not only in the Niger Delta as every day you see illegal refineries cropping up here and there,” the VC added.

The university don remarked that it is important that whenever there is an invitation for an occasion such as this, members of the institution, well meaning individuals, lovers of education should honour such invitation, so as to appreciate the work that they are doing at the university, adding that they do not only teach, but carried out research for the benefit of the society and country at large.

Okogbule welcomed dignitaries present to the 77th  Inaugural Lecture of the university, while specially commending members of the 13th governing council the university for always maintaining the tempo expected by the institution.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana