AUST Appoints Dakuku Peterside AFRILEAP Director, Tasks Him with Redefining African Leadership, Building Enduring Legacies
The growing concern over Africa’s leadership failures, weak institutions and unsustainable governance practices has prompted a fresh initiative to redefine how leaders are assessed, with the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, appointing former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, to spearhead the effort.
Peterside, a former Rivers State Commissioner for Works and member of the House of Representatives, will lead the African Leadership Legacy Project (AFRILEAP), an initiative of the university’s Centre for Pan-African and Peace Studies (CePAPS).
AFRILEAP was designed to shift leadership assessment from temporary achievements and political influence to enduring institutional impact, accountable governance and sustainable development.
The appointment places Peterside at the forefront of an emerging continental conversation on leadership legacies, challenging African leaders to demonstrate not merely what they accomplished while in office, but what institutions, opportunities and lasting benefits they leave behind.
Peterside is expected to bring his experience in public administration, governance and institutional leadership to AFRILEAP, which seeks to shift Africa’s leadership conversation beyond political appointments, immediate accomplishments and personal achievements towards enduring institutional impact, human capital development, accountable governance and sustainable legacies.
Announcing his appointment, Peterside expressed appreciation to AUST and CePAPS for the confidence reposed in him, describing the initiative as an opportunity to advance a new culture of purposeful and responsible leadership across the continent.
“What do you want to be remembered for long after you are gone?” he asked, explaining that the question captures the fundamental philosophy behind AFRILEAP.
According to him, the project will develop evidence-based frameworks and practical tools to assess leadership effectiveness, strengthen institutions, nurture future generations and encourage leaders to pursue achievements that outlive their tenure.
Beginning with Nigeria, AFRILEAP will undertake comparative studies across other African countries, drawing insights from different governance experiences to promote institutional continuity, responsible leadership and sustainable development.
Peterside, who has served at both state and federal levels of government, said he looks forward to collaborating with scholars, institutions and development partners across Africa and beyond to realise the initiative’s objectives.
His appointment comes amid continuing conversations about leadership accountability, governance performance and the need for stronger institutions capable of sustaining development beyond individual administrations.
“Africa needs leaders who build legacies, not just hold positions,” Peterside declared, underscoring the initiative’s emphasis on lasting impact rather than the temporary privileges of public office.
With AFRILEAP, AUST seeks to contribute to a broader rethinking of leadership across the continent, placing institutional strength, opportunities created for future generations and measurable societal progress at the centre of how leaders are assessed and remembered.
