A retired general and a professor of Military History, Shuaibu Ibrahim, on Monday called for transforming power and leadership into instruments for social change, national development, and service to humanity.

Mr Ibrahim made the call while delivering the 22nd Professorial Inaugural Lecture of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, titled ‘Power, Patriotism and Legacy: A Historian’s Reflection on Leadership Values and the Fate of a Nation’.

He said leadership positions and authority were ordained by God and transient, stressing that what truly mattered was how power was deployed to positively impact lives and advance societal development. According to him, true leadership was not about wielding authority but about inspiring, empowering and transforming followers for the collective good of society.

Mr Ibrahim said that for Nigeria to experience a rebirth of national values, leadership and power must be rooted in the people and aligned with their collective aspirations.

He restated the need to empower citizens to hold leaders accountable, adding that historically, thriving societies have rewarded merit and enforced sanctions against misconduct.

The retired general urged Nigerians to consciously shape their legacy while still in active service, noting that the privilege of citizenship came with the responsibility to contribute meaningfully to nation-building. He said the way individuals responded to national challenges reflected their sense of purpose and commitment to humanity, adding that a good name was more valuable than material wealth.

Mr Ibrahim observed that many leaders often lost sight of service when elevated to positions of authority, describing this as a major disconnect between power, legacy and societal transformation.

He stressed that legacy should be measured by the number of lives positively touched and the enduring impact made on society.

Reflecting on his career, Mr Ibrahim said he was privileged to have served successfully in both the military and academia, attributing his achievements to faith in God, perseverance and commitment to humanity.

He described the military and academia as partners in nation-building, noting that while the military safeguarded territorial integrity, academia generated knowledge for national development.

The professor called for deeper collaboration between the two sectors to enhance national security and development outcomes. He recommended deliberate efforts to bridge the gap between the military and academia through structured knowledge-sharing, joint research initiatives and policy development.

Mr Ibrahim also advocated the establishment of joint research and innovation hubs, formalised partnerships through memoranda of understanding, and the deployment of senior academics as research fellows in military institutions.

He further urged better utilisation of personnel in the Education Corps and the engagement of retired military scholars in research and higher institutions to sustain capacity-building and national development.

According to him, stronger synergy between the military and academia would create a common front to build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Nigeria.

(NAN)