The Pro-Chancellor who was being interviewed with Host and Executive Producer, Okim-Alobi Oyama, described Nelson Mandela as a strong man who possessed all the leadership qualities necessary to attain this height. He told Nigerians that Nelson Mandela was exceptional not because he went to prison and fought for apartheid, not because he was the first fighter because they were people before him who also fought, but because Mandela was not ready to compromise until he achieved his aims, and he ran an all inclusive government. He added that when Mandela's tenure was up, he handed over without seeking another term, and refused to interfere with Thabo Mbeki's government even as he was regarded as the great MADIBA "Father of the Nation".
In a very humorous, lively, informative and an entertaining manner, that left the host giggling all the time, Professor Ndoma-Egba, described the leadership in Nigeria as one where our past leaders interfer with the government of the incumbent, and so the incumbents are not free to do what they want to do or implement their own ideas, because our past leaders dictate for them what they should do, preventing them from a leadership without interference. He continued that this thing we call godfatherism in Nigeria, Madiba made sure there was nothing like that in the South African Politics, starting from himself.
The OAU governing council Chairman, told Nigerians that the unemployment rater was very high, but looking at it from an employer's perspective, the right stuff isn't there because the youths of nowadays don't believe they can pass exams and graduate successfully without sorting. He compared the educational quality today from his time to have fallen short of the standard that existed when he was in school. In his words, he said when he was in secondary school, they had students from all over the world who were in the same school with him, leaving their countries, all the way to study in Nigeria, and added that the books they were taught with, were written in England and introduced to the Nigerian schools with foreign teachers, and it may them compete to be better because the standard of education in Nigeria then, was very high.
On the question whether there is hope for the Nigerian youths of today since our fathers who ruled Nigeria 30-40 years ago are still the ones found in country's politics today, Prof Ndoma-Egba humorously responded that according to Pythagoras everything is possible because you don't know tomorrow, and based on that, there is hope for the Nigerian youth. He didn't forget to quote President Jonathan when he said he had looked at his generation, the generation next to his, and other future generations, and all he could see were tiny leaders rather than great leaders because no one is prepared to serve the nation.
The Professor of Medicine and Surgery, advised Nigerian leaders to emulate the life of Nelson Mandela, and Nigeria will be great.
Professor Rowland Ndoma-Egba has received several awards including the Cross River State Millennium Award in 2000, he was the First citizen of old Cross River State to win the NYSC national award in1980, and has manned several positions and offices including being the Chief Medical Director in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital where he succeeded in movement of the UCTH to its permanent site in Calabar. He is a distinguished Nigerian elite with several foreign degrees and expertise, including being a Surgeon in the Westminster Hospital in England, just to mention but a few. He has met with many world leaders including Queen Elizabeth of England, the Ooni of Ife, just to mention but a few.
If only Nigeria could have its own Mandela......
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