Governor of Ebonyi State  reaffirms  his administration’ s commitment to visionary and performance-driven governance

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He stated this during the public presentation of two seminal works by Dr Dakuku Peterside — Leading in a Storm and Beneath the Surface.
The Governor who was represented by the  Permanent secretary Ebonyi State Liaison Office, Abuja Dr. Kizito Nwovu lauded the author’s intellectual contributions and the relevance of his work to contemporary governance challenges across Nigeria.
 He noted  that ideas, when properly understood and applied, can transform leadership practice and accelerate development outcomes.
According to the Governor , “both books speak directly to Ebonyi’s own governance journey — from its early struggles with limited resources to its current emergence as one of Nigeria’s most promising states in infrastructure, education, human capital, and agricultural development. “
“Dr Peterside has captured the essence of what leadership in our kind of environment demands: courage, adaptability, innovation, and a relentless focus on results,” he stated.
Leading in a Storm provides a framework for decision-making under uncertainty — a critical skill for leaders operating in an environment of economic volatility, political tension, and social transformation. It teaches how to stay calm amid crises, how to interpret shifting signals quickly, and how to turn turbulence into opportunity. While Beneath the  Surface, on the other hand, challenges leaders to go beyond superficial analysis — to look for the root causes of persistent problems, question entrenched systems, and design solutions that address structural weaknesses.
The Ebonyi State Government announced that it will integrate the key lessons from both books into the state’s leadership and management training programmes. Senior civil servants, local government chairmen, heads of MDAs, and project managers.
The Governor said Leading in a Storm — focusing on agility, systems thinking, and proactive governance. Similarly, the diagnostic and reflective tools in Beneath the Surface will form part of new policy review templates for all major projects to ensure that policies and programmes are not just reactive, but grounded in data, stakeholder realities, and long-term sustainability.
He said  “Ebonyi has never shied away from innovation. “These books give us the intellectual tools to optimise leadership, strengthen governance systems, and improve our service delivery. From crisis management to citizen engagement, from agricultural expansion to smart education “we see in Dr Peterside’s work a practical guide for sustaining transformation.”
He further noted that under the current administration, Ebonyi State has invested heavily in human capital, agriculture, road infrastructure, health delivery, and digital governance — all of which require continuous leadership renewal and adaptive strategy.

Meanwhile ,  Momentum continues to build around “Leading in a Storm” as a new wave of prominent Nigerian thought leaders—Prof. Tunji Olaopa, Dr. Toye Sobande, Dr. Ademola  Adebise, and Dr. Michael Onuoha—praise the book’s relevance, clarity, and actionable frameworks for navigating complexity in both public and private sectors.

In their remarks, these leaders highlighted the book’s blend of field-tested tools and reflective wisdom, which helps executives, policymakers, and community builders lead with calm focus under pressure:

Prof. Tunji Olaopa, Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Abuja, and author of “Transforming the African Public Service”, “Managing Complex Reforms”, and “The Unending Quest for Reform: An Intellectual Memoir”, observed, “Leadership is contextual, but also universal—especially given the present state of the VUCA world and its polycrises. Leading in a Storm is therefore a defining contribution to developing the crisis leaders the world sorely needs. It is a must-read not only for leaders but also for researchers and learners.”

Dr. Toye Sobande, strategic leadership expert and author of “The Leadership Myth: Why Leadership Principles Do Not Work in Sub-Saharan Africa, commented”, “In Leading in a Storm, Dr. Dakuku Peterside offers invaluable strategies to help leaders navigate chaos and lead effectively in the most challenging circumstances. Drawing on real-world examples across Africa, he emphasizes the importance of context, calmness, and communication. This book is a comprehensive guide for anyone tasked with leadership during turbulent times. Through case studies and practical insights, it outlines how to manage crises, make swift decisions, and steer teams to success. Whether you are a seasoned leader or just starting your journey, Peterside’s approach equips you with the tools to lead with resilience and wisdom when it matters most.”

Dr. Ademola  Adebise, former MD/CEO of WEMA Bank and an author , described the book as “a straightforward and actionable handbook that empowers leaders to face uncertainty and disruption with resilience and flexibility.” He praised the book’s focus on decision quality and stakeholder communication, saying, “It shows leaders how to slow down the noise, speed up the right choices, and keep teams aligned when the stakes are highest.”

Chief Dr. Michael Onuoha, Chairman & CEO of Ailes Group and a thought leader , commended Leading in a Storm as “a valuable guide for leaders navigating complex challenges. This work offers insightful strategies for effective leadership amidst turbulence, making it a pertinent read for executives and decision-makers across sectors.” He highlighted the author’s crisis sensemaking approach, noting, “The tools for context scanning, rapid learning loops, and post-crisis renewal are worth their weight in gold for any leader committed to lasting impact.”

“Each new endorsement underscores what readers are discovering: practical guidance matters most when pressure is highest,” said Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the author. “I am grateful to these distinguished leaders for engaging with the work and their commitment to building resilient institutions.”

Leading in a Storm is a pragmatic leadership guide designed for executives, public officials, entrepreneurs, and community leaders operating in high-uncertainty contexts. Through field-tested frameworks and relatable case studies, the book equips leaders to read context clearly, make tough choices, communicate with credibility, and convert crises into opportunities for renewal.

 

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