Hon. Kwanta: Transformational Leadership, at its best!

By

Abdullahi D Mohammed



In the 21st century, there are in abundance, different and diverse mechanism and approaches to leadership. Similarly, in a world where technology, population growth and urbanization are demeaning and persistently undermining human endeavours, there is need, for adopting new approaches to confront such challenges, headlong.
One of which, should be through transformational leadership.

According to James Macgregor Burns, an American propounder of transformational leadership theory, describes transformational leaders as
" those who seek to change existing thoughts, techniques and goals for better results and the greater good, with focus, on the essential needs of the followers".

In Nasarawa State, like most states in Nigeria, there are multiple challenges, both physical and social. However, the administration of Engr A A Sule, had since 2015, built a threshold on reshaping the fortunes of the state, through impactful policies and good governance. The governor, despite his zeal, enthusiasm and fervor, would not have succeeded, without a team of new crops of young and vibrant cabinet members.

Among the team driving development and promoting good governance in Nasarawa State, is Dr Yakubu Kwanta, the immediate past Commissioner, in the Ministry of Environment.
Dr Kwanta, is everything a transformational leader is. He embodies and symbolizes transformational leadership. Because, first, he seeks to change, through actionable and practical engagement the existing thoughts, techniques and goals of the people, while focusing on the benefits of the state, as an institution.

A true democrat, grassroot mobilizer and social crusader, Dr Kwanta, as a former council Chairman understood the basics in local and grassroot administration. The single unit, in the three arms of government that has the capacity to build a towering and enduring middle-class, is unarguably the local government. As Chairman, Akwanga local government, in 2016, he set the stage for the development seen in the council today. He executed projects, hardly seen in recent political history of the council. His expansion and construction of roads, especially in rural communities, has a chain reaction and created a valid value chain. It led to increase in productivity especially in agricultural yield and output, because it created easy access to farmlands, healthcare centers across villages in Akwanga.

Hard work, resilience and dedication pays, especially when done with sincere and zero ulterior motives. There is reward for loyalty, and there is also reward for competence and expediency. In view of his dexterous and dedicated transformational traits, in 2015, Gov. A A Sule, made him a Special Adviser on Youth and Sport Development. It was in that capacity, Dr Kwanta proved his mettle, in areas of youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and skill acquisition.

Youths were trained in different areas of skills and endeavours, to enhance human capital development. Dr Kwanta, understands the root causes of restiveness, drug abuse and other form of criminality, is as result of redundancy and unemployment. It is on record, he empowered over 10,000 youths in different phases, across the state. He equally engage others in sports economy, using particularly football, as a means of livelihood.

The determination and passion with which he carried out, and chart a big path for youth inclusiveness in governance, through an elaborate empowerment, did not go unnoticed. His Excellency, the executive governor of Nasarawa State, Engr A A Sule, find him worthy of elevation to continue with the excellent job he has provided the state. He was appointed Commissioner, in the ministry of Environment. The commissionership, was just the template Dr Kwanta needed to expand on his mandate to have his impact felt in the entire state. Because, he considers the state as his constituency.
Behold, he did not disappoint.
As commissioner, he formulated policies which has positive impact on the environment, especially in key areas like clean and sustainable and healthy Nasarawa State.


In areas of solid minerals development, a key component of the state's economy, Dr Kwanta did a marvelous job, by ensuring Gov. A A Sule signs an executive order, to protect mining communities. In the past, illegal mining activities were the hallmark of the Ministry. Dr Kwanta, engaged stakeholders, mining companies to invest in human development as well as securing and protecting the host communities. Similarly, mining licensing was made less cumbersome in order to encourage local participation in the mining industry.

As core mobilizer, through youth empowerment and entrepreneurship, Dr Kwanta, had in the build up to the last gubernatorial elections, engaged in ideological discourse across the state, which birth the Kwantamania movement. The movement, was an ideological identity, which cut across different groups, creed, faith and even political leaning. It was a movement powered by the need to build a vibrant and prosperous Nasarawa State, through transformational leadership, with him as the head.

Dr Kwanta, together with the Kwantamania Movement, had engaged in momentous door to door campaigns, across remote areas in the state to canvass support for the APC and his Excellency, Gov. A A Sule. Gladly, the effort has not been vainly. It paid off. The hard fought victory, was a manifestation of a commitment to transform the State to an enviable spot, in country.

Dr Kwanta is not only a politician, but a development maestro and strategist. A loyal, humble and incorruptible fellow. His respect, loyalty and adoration for his mentor, Engr A A Sule, has never been in doubt. He is unapologetically subservient to Gov A A Sule, whom he learned a lot about transformational leadership. A detribalized individual, who respects people of different faith, Dr Kwanta has no war to fight, enemy to conquer or adversary to subdue. But on the political turf, he is moving train, who will stop at nothing to get his party and principal, Gov A A Sule on the path of victory for the greater good of Nasarawa State.
By this, the youths and the good people of Nasarawa would continue to pray, Dr Kwanta return to continue serving the State, and humanity.

Abdullahi D Mohammed is with the Department of Political Science and International studies at the Ahmadu Bello University-Zaria. He Writes from Kano.