Education

Embrace Curiosity and Teamwork in Digital Era, Irish Consultant Tells Nigerian Youth

Published

5 days ago

February 25, 2026

An Irish management consultant and former Senior Lecturer at Atlantic Technological University, Paddy Harte, has urged Nigerian youth to cultivate curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboration to thrive in the fast-evolving digital age.

Harte gave the advice while delivering the fifth Public Lecture of the African School of Economics in Abuja on February 18, 2026. The lecture, titled “Innovation and Leadership in the Digital Age: Perspectives from Ireland,” focused on the changing nature of leadership in a technology-driven world.

According to the guest speaker, meaningful success in today’s global landscape requires resilience, teamwork, and purposeful leadership. He stressed that effective leadership is less about individual achievements and more about empowering others to succeed.

He explained that the digital era has transformed leadership through rapid global change, increased connectivity, remote work, artificial intelligence, automation, and data-driven decision-making, noting that modern leadership has shifted from command-based approaches to collaborative engagement.

Harte also encouraged Nigerians to adopt what he described as the “magnificent seven rules of leadership,” urging them to turn up, speak up, listen up, look up, team up, and never give up.

In his goodwill message, the Irish Ambassador to Nigeria, Peter Ryan, commended Nigerians for their resilience and openness, describing them as key drivers of innovation. He highlighted hospitality, connection, relationship-building, and curiosity as essential ingredients for leadership and national progress, while encouraging citizens to step outside their comfort zones and engage more meaningfully with others.

Earlier, in his welcome address titled “Readers are Leaders, Learners are Earners,” the Vice-Chancellor of the African School of Economics, Mahfouz Adedimeji, underscored the importance of leadership in shaping societies. He noted that strong leadership fosters development, while poor leadership can hinder societal progress.

Adedimeji further called on Nigerians to work together, emphasising that the country’s diversity should be a source of strength rather than division. He also urged citizens to take advantage of the coinciding periods of Ramadan and Lent to read, learn, and better understand one another, warning that a lack of learning often leads to a poverty of ideas and rising tensions.

The event featured goodwill messages from several participants, including former Nigerian ambassador to Mozambique Albert Omotayo, University of Ilorin associate professor Dr Foluke Aliyu, University of Ibadan senior lecturer Dr Tope Ajayi, and NAHCON Zonal Commissioner Dr Tajudeen Oladejo.

The Beacon NG Newspaper

Embrace Curiosity and Teamwork in Digital Era, Irish Consultant Tells Nigerian Youth

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