by Priscilla Christopher-Akpanettot
Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke is a brand to look out for in the marketplace of leadership. When he speaks, you have every reason to listen, reflect and leave better than you came. With the calm confidence of a seasoned public servant and the depth of a teacher committed to shaping minds, he generously dishes out rich doses of leadership wisdom, always directing his audience towards the urgent task of changing their mindset.
Yesterday, at the NUJ Akwa Ibom State Council Leadership Summit, the former National Lawmaker and former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, who served as Chairman of the Summit, did not merely occupy a ceremonial seat. He turned the platform into a classroom of ideas, offering practical nuggets on legacy, self-leadership, emotional intelligence, empathy, courage and responsible decision-making.
One of his most striking lessons was a reminder that leadership should not be measured by physical monuments or the prominence of one’s name. “Do not labour for your name to be written on the walls of a building, because buildings can collapse,” he counselled. Rather, he urged leaders to work towards having their names written in the hearts of the people, where the impact of their service and the strength of their legacy can endure beyond offices, titles and structures.
For Luke, leadership begins from within. A person who cannot manage personal emotions, discipline personal conduct or exercise self-control may struggle to inspire confidence in others. His emphasis on emotional intelligence was particularly instructive, as he noted that how a leader responds in moments of anger often reveals the true character of that leader. It was a timely reminder that leadership is not only tested by the quality of decisions made in public, but also by the maturity displayed under pressure.
The former lawmaker also challenged leaders to stand for something and to lead with empathy. Beyond occupying people’s minds through authority or influence, he urged them to earn a place in their hearts through compassion, sincerity and service. In a society where leadership is sometimes reduced to power and privilege, his message offered a refreshing perspective: that the most enduring leaders are those whose humanity remains visible even when their responsibilities are demanding.
Perhaps the most compelling of his nuggets was the call for courage in decision-making. According to him, every leader will face difficult choices shaped by ego, emotion, social realities and even the temptation to do nothing. Yet, leadership is ultimately defined by the courage to choose what is right, even when it is difficult. Through his thoughtful intervention, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke left the Summit with more than words of encouragement; he handed participants a leadership compass—one that points towards self-mastery, empathy, integrity, purposeful service and a legacy written not on walls, but in the hearts of the people.
