By Christiana Gokyo, Jos
Servant leadership has been described as the willingness to set an example and make decisions without needing to be the loudest or oldest person in the room, with a true leader expected to first learn how to lead himself.
A servant is defined as someone who prioritises the needs and well-being of others above their own. True servanthood requires strength, humility, discipline and the ability to sacrifice personal comfort for a greater cause.
This was disclosed by Haroun Harry Audu, Trustee and Executive Director of Sentinel Oasis for Love and Care Initiative (SOLCI), at the Cohorts 1 and 2 Sentinels Reunion held at the Plateau State High Court Conference Hall, Jos, over the weekend.
Audu said leadership does not begin when a person is given a position, but when nobody is watching.
“We often speak about leadership as though it begins when we are given a position. It does not. Leadership begins when nobody is watching.
“Before you lead a community, you must learn to lead your appetites. Before you ask people to trust you, you must become trustworthy. Before you demand accountability from others, you must become accountable yourself.”
According to him, a servant leader who cannot manage his time cannot credibly speak about community development, while one who cannot keep his word cannot build trust.
He added that a servant leader who blames everyone else for his failures is not ready to carry responsibility.
“A servant leader who is courageous in public but dishonest in private has not understood servant leadership. And a young leader who expects the government, NGOs, churches or mosques, elders and somebody else to solve every problem around him has missed the first lesson of leadership,” he said.
Audu said leadership was not merely about gaining followers, but about empowering those around a leader to become better.
He explained that participants in the Sentinel movement were expected to see themselves as Sentinels rather than mere participants.
He said being a Sentinel represents a responsibility and a posture of being alert to community needs rather than simply complaining about problems.
According to him, a Sentinel responds by asking what they can contribute and by standing in the gap to serve.
Audu further explained that the initiative aims to unite young people through faith, integrity and service in order to foster social change.
He said the movement had recorded successful initiatives, including Sentinels from the University World Health, which has engaged more than 406 Sentinels.
The Executive Director also disclosed that previous programmes included a community clean-up challenge and training for 51 emerging leaders from 10 wards in Jos North.
In her goodwill message, Ms Hannah Musa, a Lead Trainer from Abuja, said real service occurs when individuals act even when nobody is watching or providing recognition.
She challenged the participants to consider whether they would continue to serve if there was nobody available to say thank you or witness their work.
According to her, true change happens when people move beyond being inspired by programmes and begin to take ownership of their environment.
She added that awareness is the first step, requiring individuals to observe and acknowledge existing needs within their communities.
“Awareness is when an individual realises that they possess unique skills, voices or time that can make a difference.
Commitment means deciding to take action despite resistance or a lack of immediate results. Consistency is essential because lasting change only occurs when an individual keeps showing up over time,” she said.
She emphasised that leadership is defined by character and how one treats people when no one is watching, adding that true servant leadership requires living a life that gives meaning to words rather than merely studying theory.
Musa challenged the participants to move from being mere observers of problems to becoming active leaders who seek solutions.
She identified five core principles for them to carry forward: purpose, excellence, dignity, values and access. She said these principles involve understanding why one wants to lead, serve and make a difference in the community.
The Chairman and CEO of TADS Kitchen, Jos, also charged the participants to stand out from the crowd, not because they wanted to be better than everyone else, but because they had decided not to be content with simply being another person in the crowd.
She urged them to speak, act and get involved whenever they identified needs in their communities.
“Charity may begin at home, but service cannot end at your doorstep.
“If you have been equipped to see a need, then you have also been given a responsibility to respond to it. Start where you are. Use what is in your hands, and remember that you do not have to do everything alone,” she said.
According to her, participants may not be able to change an entire community, but they could change one street, help one young person, solve one problem, organise five people around an idea, or simply be the person who refuses to say, “That is not my business.”
She also urged them to figure things out before they begin contributing, learn as they go and allow themselves to make mistakes.
She encouraged them to become people who can be trusted, who show up, keep their word and do excellent work even when nobody is watching.
“Be the person who serves without losing their dignity. Be the person who knows what they stand for and the person who is intentional about who they are becoming,” she said.