The federal government has assured Nigerians of overcoming the current predicament faced by the country due to the global glut in crude oil prices caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.Â
The group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, gave the assurance while speaking at the 2019 LEADERSHIP Conference & Awards, in Abuja on Thursday.Â
Although Kyari, acknowledged that the country, as well as the, now faces tough time, he, however, expressed confidence that with good leadership in place, the country will overcome.
“These are very tough times for our country and for the world. Even before the Coronavirus, there were clear indications that the global economy is facing challenges. Now it’s further complicated by the challenge thrown up by the Coronavirus effect which has translated into demand loss, production losses of every kind and also disruption in the supply chain of many countries.Â
“That means we are challenged today and we need to respond to this. And that response requires leadership and leadership doesn’t come from the blues it comes from people, it comes from commitment, it comes history,” he said.
While applauding the effects of the newspaper house towards setting the agenda in terms of rewarding proficiency in leadership, Kyari said, “And I can understand why we are here today, is to acknowledge that some people provided leadership. They served in their areas of endeavour and they contributed to nation building and we still relating to them so that we can walk away from this situation that we have found ourselves. It is very worthwhile that we should recognize and reward this category of people.”
Speaking of the contribution of his predecessor, Dr. Maitanti Baru who was honoured ad Leadership CEO of the year 2019, Kyari said, “One of them is Dr. Maitanti Baru, we in NNPC we are very proud of him. He has remain a symbol of encouragement, of the quality of efficiency which we try to imbibe and we will do our best to make sure that we deliver on the task that he has left for us to handle, it is tough but we will do our best.”
He tasked other recipients to bring their wealth of leadership to bear in trying to help the nation come out of the current crisis, saying, “For the rest of the recipients, yes we recognize you, but this country need us all again today, tomorrow and now most of importantly at this moment of change we need to support each other so that we can walk out of the situation.”
Kyari commended the the chairman of Leadership Group, Sam Nda-Isaiah, for honoring his former boss and charged him to continue in the task supporting nation building.