Veteran comedian and entrepreneur, Ali Baba, has urged Nigerians to deliberately develop their talents until they become commercially and socially valuable.
Ali Baba made the call during the Life Guide Colloquium held in Lagos, according to a statement released on Wednesday.
The event also featured the presentation of a new book, titled: “Life Guide: Stories, Lessons and Insights to Empower Your Journey,” by brand strategist and leadership architect, Jide Adeyemi.
Speaking on the theme: “Influence Engineering,” Ali Baba said talent alone was not enough without consistent development and intentional growth.
He said: “We are talking about mining your potential properly until it becomes an asset.
“Potential is where to start from, but you have to develop it enough to the point where people begin to seek it for commercial or societal value.”
The comedian added that influence grows when people intentionally nurture their abilities until they become indispensable to society.
He also stressed the need to recognise individuals who create opportunities and contribute positively to society, saying appreciation encourages others to make meaningful impact.
According to him, rewarding positive contributions is necessary for building a compassionate and progressive society.
Speaking at the colloquium, Adeyemi said Nigeria’s major challenge was not the absence of capable leaders but the lack of intentional and sustainable leadership.
He said many leaders fail to continue existing programmes after assuming office, choosing instead to introduce new projects driven by personal interests.
Adeyemi said: “We have amazing leaders in Nigeria, but what is lacking is intentionality and purposeful leadership.
“One government comes with fantastic programmes, and immediately they leave office, the next person starts something new.
“That is why we don’t have continuity.”
He added that sustainable leadership requires genuine concern for people and a commitment to lasting impact.
Adeyemi also described Nigeria as a country filled with opportunities despite its challenges, noting that gaps in major sectors create room for innovation and enterprise.
He said: “This is one country where you can go to bed with nothing and wake up the next morning a millionaire because someone gives you an opportunity.
“In places where everything already works, there may be fewer opportunities, but in Nigeria, there are many gaps to fill.”
Explaining the purpose of the colloquium, Adeyemi said the platform was designed to help people find clarity and direction in life, leadership, business and faith.
He said: “We are trying to provide a compass through which people can navigate life.
“There is so much noise and distraction around people today, and there is a need for clarity, purpose and direction.”
Adeyemi also stressed the connection between leadership, branding, faith and nation-building.
“You cannot build a nation without quality leadership, you cannot have personal clarity without faith in God, and you cannot do anything without marketing,” he said.
Speaking on his book, Adeyemi said it was written to help readers develop purposeful lives, gain personal clarity and build wisdom across different areas of life.
He added that the book encourages readers to embrace integrity and live intentionally.
