Governor Otti has kickstarted the engine of development, inspiring the people and keeping the wheels in motion. However, the dire need to sustain the momentum is an onerous task for everyone, especially the dedication of stakeholders.
I recently had the privilege of attending the Mentorship Forum at the University of Lagos, alongside esteemed professors, including Prof. Austin Nwagoara, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, Prof. Akanbi Ilupeju, Prof. Bolajoko Dickson-Ogbechi, and Prof. Muyiwa Falaiye. The event, organized by Dr. Henry Ogunjewo, the Sub Dean faculty of Arts University of Lagos was a resounding success.
During the forum, I could not help but reflect on the Odibo mentorship practice, a tradition that emphasizes guidance and support. The discussions and interactions at the event resonated deeply with this practice, highlighting the importance of mentorship in personal and professional growth. Mentorship is fundamentally a supportive and advisory relationship where a more experienced individual, the mentor, guides a less experienced person, the mentee, to foster his or her personal and professional development. It is a process that involves the transfer of knowledge, skills, wisdom, and social capital through a sustained, often informal interaction, characterised by mutual respect, trust, and open communication. Unlike mere instruction, mentorship aims to nurture the mentee holistically into developing competence, confidence, and ethical grounding by drawing on the mentor’s experience and insight.
The Igbo tradition of “Odibo” epitomises a mentoring system that far surpasses the mere transmission of skills, embracing instead the deliberate inculcation of moral character, intellectual rigour, and entrepreneurial acumen. This process is relational and deeply embedded in values of respect, patience, and reciprocity, whereby elders or more seasoned individuals take it upon themselves to nurture the younger generation comprehensively. Odibo is holistic, addressing not only technical competence but also fostering virtues such as integrity, responsibility, humility, and a profound sense of communal duty. Through personal example and sustained engagement, the mentor shapes the mentee’s worldview and ethical framework, ensuring that knowledge is imparted hand in hand with the essential values that underpin personal flourishing and social cohesion. The mentorship period could range between five to seven years. A period in which it is expected that mentee would have garned required knowledge and experience to succeed and even surpass his or her mentor. In fact, the Igbo mentor hinges all efforts in the manifestation of the saying, “nwa m ka kwa m.” Implicitly, the mentor believes in the mentee surpassing his or her prowess. In some instances, it can be seen as a mentorship failure when this belief does not materialise in the mentee. That is the beauty and secret of Igbo success and greatness.
When this indigenous philosophy is considered alongside contemporary academic mentorship, especially within the context of universities, the parallels reveal a shared commitment to nurturing excellence in both intellectual and ethical dimensions. Lecturers, often seen purely as conveyors of knowledge, in fact mirror the role of the Odibo mentor by guiding students across various stages of their academic journey. Undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students alike receive more than technical instructions; they are inducted into scholarly disciplines through a tutelage that encourages critical thinking, discipline, academic integrity, and a sense of purpose beyond the classroom. This guidance does not only mould them into haters of ignorance, but also rntre infopreneurs, purveyors of knowledge fostering a transformative growth that enables students to navigate the rigours of academia and emerge as leaders in their respective fields.
Furthermore, the spirit of Odibo permeates collegial interactions within the academia itself. Senior lecturers and professors mentor junior colleagues, guiding them in navigating the rigours of academic life, including securing research funding, refining academic writing, and engaging with international scholarly communities. This internal mentorship contributes substantially to fostering continuous professional development and raising institutional standards of excellence. Such a communal pursuit of growth underscores the Odibo principle that progress is a shared endeavour, in which individuals flourish through collective investment.
Extending this conceptual framework to leadership, the mentor’s role evolves into that of a transformative figure who does far more than manage or direct. Effective leaders inculcate virtue and excellence by creating environments in which these qualities are expected, modelled, absorbed, or adapted. Leadership, in this light, is a profound form of mentorship, one where the leader’s conduct inspires emulation and builds a culture of innovation and invention. His Excellency, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, exemplifies this approach. His administration, rooted in dedication, inclusiveness, and a commitment to the common good, personifies the mentorship ethos on a societal scale. Currently, from the state legislators, members of the executive council and the entire workforce are galvanised, overly poised, and serving as Vanguards for a new dawn in Abia state. The ripple effects are seen in motivated citizens galvanised into fostering a culture of responsible followership in excellent pursuit of elevated collective aspirations. His leadership thus reflects the very essence of Odibo: the purposeful inculcation of values and competence as a path to sustainable development. Building upon this foundation, the agricultural revolution orchestrated in Bende North Constituency as the representative of the people aligns seamlessly with His Excellency’s vision. Recognising that true progress encompasses all sectors vital to communal wellbeing, my initiatives go beyond policy; it is a mentorship driven movement aimed at transforming agriculture into a beacon of innovation and prosperity. Through deliberate teaching, training, and hands-on demonstration of modern agricultural skills and techniques, this revolution empowers farmers and youths alike to embrace sustainable, technology-enhanced farming practices. This mentorship model nurtures not only technical competence but also fosters virtues of diligence, stewardship, and entrepreneurial spirit, echoing the holistic values of Odibo.
By providing knowledge of improved crop varieties, mechanization, climate-smart practices, and value-chain management, we are cultivating a new generation of agricultural leaders. This initiative drives community development, food security, and economic empowerment, embodying mentorship that fosters collective growth. Together, the leadership exemplified by His Excellency Dr Alex Chioma Otti and Hon. Ibekwe Nnamdi Chimdi demonstrates how mentorship rooted in indigenous wisdom and adapted to contemporary challenges can transform both governance and grassroots development.
The enduring connection between the Igbo Odibo, academic mentorship, and principled leadership affirms the universal truth that mentorship is essential not only for the transmission of knowledge but also for the inculcation of values that sustain communities across generations. Thus, mentorship, whether in traditional Igbo culture as Odibo, in academic settings, or in leadership—is a transformative process that underpins the development of individuals and society. It bridges experience with potential, knowledge with ethics, and guidance with growth, ensuring the transmission of excellence and the continuous renewal of communities.
Hon. IBEKWE Nnamdi Chimdi FNIS., FCIMS
Lawmaker Representing Bende North Constituency, Abia State