BEKEE ANYALEWECHI
The race has begun over who first lays hand on the latest book on the application of management and leadership modules in the running of public institutions in Nigeria.
Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, and Founder of MRS Group, Alhaji Sayyu Dantata, are some of the first set of Nigerian business leaders to pre-order the yet-to-be released book, Strategic Turnaround: The Story of a Government Agency.
In a statement made available on Tuesday signed by Damilare Ogunleye, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, LASIKO Marketing Limited, the official marketing partner for the book, other top business leaders and CEOs have lined up with requests to purchase the book.
The 300-page book, which chronicles the transformation of a strategic government agency, is authored by Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the immediate past Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA.
Otedola, who preordered 1,000 copies at cover price for distribution to selected institutions across the country, expressed his belief In the reformation of public sector institutions as an enabler for private sector performance.
In his words, “I believe in the reforms of public sector institutions for greater efficiency and effectiveness. If our public sector institutions are functioning well like their counterparts in other parts of the globe, it will lead to improvement in quality of services rendered and will strengthen the private sector to create jobs. Job creation will address poverty and accelerate development.
“I believe that what happened in NIMASA in the past four years is a success story of institutional reform which can be replicated in other agencies of government which is why I am preordering this book so that more persons can read it and be inspired to also reform whatever government institution they find themselves.
On his part, Alhaji Dantata, who is the founding Chairman of MRS Group, who has preordered 500 copies of the book, wants as many aspiring leaders as possible to read the story of the “transformation of NIMASA through committed and visionary leadership.”
According to him, “I want as many persons as possible to read the success story of how one of the most important agencies of government in Nigeria was transformed under a period of four years. If NIMASA could be effectively reformed then all other agencies can be reformed. All we need is visionary and focused leadership which Dr. Peterside gave while at NIMASA.”
He disclosed that the preordered copies would be distributed to selected public universities and libraries across Nigeria.
Similarly, six other notable Nigerian business leaders have also preordered several hundred copies of the book, which according to the publishers, Safari Books, will be released at a public presentation on 28 January, 2021.
The statement explained that Strategic Turnaround is a book written in simple narrative and expository style that tells the story of the major reform initiatives adopted to transform NIMASA from a non-performing agency to a global brand that is alive to its regulatory and promotional mandate.
“It is a detailed account of management and leadership principles that were applied to turnaround NIMASA in such a short period”, the marketing partners added.
The book already enjoys national and global rating through reviews and op-eds published in international, national and local media and literary outlets.
