Poor leadership is what stands between Africa and greatness

Kibera Slums. [File, Standard]

“When the lead sheep limps, the flock does not reach the pastures.”

This African proverb underscores the significance of leadership as the single most decisive factor in shaping the nation’s future. The world over, what separates stability from fragility, progress from stagnation and peace from endless crises often boils down to the quality of leadership at every level of society. Yet, in too many instances, leadership remains the weakest link, especially in Africa. To put the import of leadership into perspective, it helps to compare countries that started from similar baselines but took different paths. A common example is how most African countries and their Asian counterparts, such as Singapore, have followed contrasting trajectories shaped largely by the quality of their leadership.