Distinguished leaders from business, governance, media, education, faith-based institutions, and civil society have called for a deliberate national commitment to mentorship, leadership development, and intergenerational knowledge transfer as critical pillars for Nigeria’s future.
The call was made at the Passing the Torch Initiative, organised in celebration of the 60th birthday of renowned leadership mentor and corporate executive, Idy Enang, whose life and work have been dedicated to developing people, building leaders, and creating opportunities for the next generation.
The event, themed “Mentorship as a Catalyst for Nation Building,” featured a keynote address by Pastor Tunde Bakare, remarks by Dr. Vitus Ezinwa, and a panel discussion moderated by Fola Niyi-Duale, with contributions from Julia Oku-Jacks, Femi Odugbemi, Dr. Ini Abimbola, and Ayo Adio.
Speaking during the event, Pastor Tunde Bakare described mentorship as one of the most powerful forces for building sustainable leadership and enduring institutions.
Drawing inspiration from the famous words of Sir Isaac Newton that “if I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,” Pastor Bakare emphasised that no significant achievement occurs in isolation.
“Behind every great leader is a mentor who provided guidance, correction, opportunity, encouragement, and wisdom,” he said.
Using examples from history, including Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Alexander the Great, Pastor Bakare argued that sustainable national development depends on the intentional transfer of knowledge, values, leadership capacity, and institutional memory from one generation to another.
Drawing lessons from biblical mentorship relationships such as Paul and Timothy, Paul and Titus, and Barnabas and Mark, Pastor Bakare noted that mentorship is not about creating followers but about helping people discover and fulfil their unique destinies.
He also reflected on the rich mentoring traditions of African societies, where families, apprenticeships, guilds, royal institutions, and community structures played critical roles in transmitting values, skills, and responsibilities.
According to him, many of Nigeria’s leadership challenges today stem from the gradual erosion of these structures. “We are raising a generation that is highly connected technologically but often lacks direction because of the absence of intentional mentorship,” he observed.
Pastor Bakare called for the establishment of deliberate mentoring ecosystems across homes, schools, businesses, professional associations, religious institutions, and government.
A major highlight of his address was a tribute to Idy Enang, whom he described as a living example of mentorship in action. He declared, “Mentorship multiplies influence far beyond what we can immediately see.”
In his remarks titled Why We Are Here, Dr. Vitus Ezinwa challenged participants to think beyond personal achievement and focus on purpose and contribution. Using a deeply personal story involving a conversation with his daughter, Dr. Ezinwa argued that success, titles, promotions, and accomplishments become empty when disconnected from a purpose larger than oneself.
“Purpose gives meaning to achievement,” he said.
He noted that Idy Enang’s lifelong commitment to helping people identify pathways to excellence, leadership, and personal growth reflects a life driven by purpose rather than position.
The panel discussion further explored mentorship as a vehicle for national transformation.
Julia Oku-Jacks stressed that mentorship goes beyond career advancement and should focus on transferring values, integrity, confidence, and critical thinking. “Mentorship is about creating access,” she said, while emphasising that mentors must intentionally open doors and create opportunities for others.
She added, “I am not here to pass on my legacy. I want to pass on values.”
Veteran filmmaker and media executive Femi Odugbemi highlighted the role of storytelling and the creative industry in shaping culture and national identity.
Describing the creative sector as “imagination engineering,” Odugbemi noted that young people today are increasingly influenced by trends, algorithms, and social media. “Visibility has become a value,” he observed.
He argued that mentorship in the creative industry must focus on helping young people understand not just how to create content, but why they create it, and what values their work promotes.
Dr. Ini Abimbola examined the distinctions between mentorship, sponsorship, and patronage, warning that many organisations mistakenly practice patronage while calling it mentorship.
According to her, sponsorship involves established leaders deliberately investing their credibility, reputation, influence, and professional capital to create opportunities for emerging leaders. She further advocated intentional efforts to create leadership pathways for women and other underrepresented groups.
Ayo Adio reinforced the importance of standards and values, noting that the examples leaders set today ultimately shape the kind of society future generations inherit.
“The standards a people set influence the next generation,” he said.
As the Passing the Torch Initiative celebrated Idy Enang’s 60th birthday, participants affirmed that the greatest legacy any leader can leave is not personal achievement, but the lives they help shape and the leaders they prepare for tomorrow.
