How Tompolo Made me Stay Back in Nigeria for Havard-standard Leadership Training – Netherlands-based Elder

Mr. Alfred Piniki, a prominent Netherlands-based Ijaw elder of Gbaramatu Kingdom, has narrated how High Chief (Dr.) Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo, encouraged him to stay back in Nigeria for a Harvard-standard leadership training.

Piniki spoke during his graduation ceremony from a Value Rebirth LSD Leadership School, Warri, held at the Holy Family Catholic Church Hall, Edjeba-Warri, on August 9, 2025.

He described the training provided in the Value Rebirth LSD Leadership School, Warri, as standard and international.

According to him, the training produces selfless leaders like High Chief (Dr.) Government Ekpemupolo aka Tompolo who he said is committed to transforming society.

Piniki paid glowing tribute to Tompolo for the impact he had gotten by his encouragement to stay back in Nigeria.

He said, “I want to thank Tompolo for the encouragement to stay back in Nigeria to partake and graduate from the one-year training with its transformative lessons”.

Another graduate, Andrew-Minto Ariezu from the oil-rich Ogulagha Kingdom agreed with Piniki, saying; “the programme’s impact has already primed me to do things differently to improve my relationships and do whatever within my power to positively influence society”.

At the convocation ceremony which saw 144 persons graduating with over 200 matriculants, the Director of Studies, Amb. Pastor Edewor Egedegbe said, following his trips every month to Abuja years ago to attend the LSD Leadership School, Abuja for the one-year training, he decided to establish the present Delta Study Centre of the LSD Leadership School, Abuja, in Warri.

A lecture on “Leadership and Value Decadence in Nigeria: Finding Local Implementable Solutions” was delivered by Abraham Ogbodo, former editor of the Guardian Newspapers, who emphasized among others that “leadership is driven more by spirituality than by intellect”.

In his remarks at the event, Founding Executive Director of the LSD Leadership School, Abuja, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, said he “founded the LSD Leadership School Abuja to fill the leadership gap in Nigeria and Africa”, stressing: “the training is fashioned along the leadership courses curriculum of the prestigious Ivy League institutions in Northrstern United States, namely Harvard, Princeton, Brown and Yale Universities among others”.