NEHEMIAH’S LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES IN REBUILDING JERUSALEM: LESSONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The Old Testament book of Nehemiah provides a remarkable example of a leader motivated by, and acting for, good of the people. It also provides an example of the use of effective means in leadership: the pursuit of excellence in leadership and a passionate focus upon achieving desirable results. Nehemiah was actively involved in projects from start to finish. One of the distinctive features of Nehemiah’s leadership was the way he involved others. He motivated people and mobilized them to carry out his plan. Everyone, from the high priest to the goldsmiths, and merchants to the common citizens got involved. Throughout the entire process, Nehemiah was a participatory leader. He led his followers from a position alongside them, rather than being out in front or trying to push them from behind. Hence it is the aim of this paper to x-ray the leadership strategies of Nehemiah as recorded in his memoir and the lessons for achieving sustainable development in Nigeria. This is because many political leaders in contemporary Nigeria have tended to invert or subvert leadership and continue to deny its positive principles. Thus the concept of leadership as exemplified by Nehemiah is helpful to the extent that it helps to emphasize the essence of leadership. The paper therefore concludes that for the attainment of sustainable development in Nigeria, political leaders should be conscious of the fact that leadership bears the clarification which Nehemiah’s strategies in rebuilding Jerusalem represent.