By Joy Odor
Leadership Development Expert and Executive Director of Still Waters Foundation, Dr. Femi Lanre-Oke, has called on Nigerians to adopt sincere, action-backed dialogue as the key to resolving the country’s recurring conflicts.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, Dr. Lanre-Oke noted that conflicts are inevitable due to differences in cultural backgrounds, upbringing, perspectives, and interests.
He stressed that resolving disputes requires humility, active listening, and a focus on issues rather than personalities.
“We are wired differently. We see things differently. That clash of difference is what results in conflict,” he said. “You cannot be always right. No matter how much you know, you cannot know all, all the time. Address the issue, not the person.”
The Leadership Coach also advocated for transformational leadership that drives positive change within organisations and across the nation.
He urged journalists to present balanced perspectives and speak truth to power, noting that media objectivity can help bridge divisions and inform government action.
“At the national level, conflict can arise when people feel cheated or neglected. The government may not even know what is happening, but when journalists present the true picture, they can help restore balance,” he said.
On Nigeria’s communal crises, Dr. Lanre-Oke emphasised addressing root causes rather than applying temporary fixes.
“If you do not address the root, and we use external forces, you just calm it down a little, and it will come back again,” he warned.
He called for genuine dialogue supported by clear commitments and follow-through.
“If there is a promise, let there be a commitment to it, and a fulfilment of that promise,” he said, adding that national progress depends on collective responsibility.
“If everybody cleans the front of his compound, the whole community will be clean. We can do better if we all take responsibility,” Dr. Lanre-Oke concluded.
