True leadership is about lives touched, not power – Dr Adeyemi
Global speaker and leadership expert, Rev. Dr Samuel Adeyemi, has urged leaders to redefine success by the lives they touch rather than the authority they wield, stressing that true leadership is rooted in stewardship, not ownership.
He said legacy leadership is about influence and service, not control, and requires the ability to anticipate challenges, interpret complex situations and align decisions to positively impact others.
Dr Adeyemi made these remarks during a presentation titled Building a Sustainable Leadership Legacy on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at the Pentecost Convention Centre at Gomoa Fetteh, on day three of the 13th Jospong Leadership Conference (JLC) 2026, held under the theme “Building Tomorrow's Leaders Today”.
According to him, legacy leaders approach decision-making differently, asking deeper questions about long-term impact before taking major actions. He noted that leadership across Africa is currently under intense strain due to economic disruption, widespread poverty and heightened public scrutiny.
“Leaders in Africa today face a lot of economic pressures and public scrutiny because of the widespread deprivation,” he noted.
Dr Adeyemi encouraged participants to pursue results with integrity, stressing that leadership should not only be assessed by outcomes, but also by the process through which those outcomes are achieved.
“The purpose of leadership is to impact the lives of many, to serve humanity, and to hold the position in trust,” he stated.
While acknowledging the value of personal achievement, he argued that the ultimate measure of success lies in empowering others to rise and succeed.
“When you achieve success, you get recognition, awards, but your success should end up empowering and helping other people to succeed,” he indicated.
He further challenged business and organisational leaders to rethink how they define success.
“Don't measure your success as a business leader by what you achieve, but by how many lives you're touching,” he charged.
Dr Adeyemi also called on organisations to continually renew their corporate culture to ensure it delivers positive social impact. He observed that trust, although a critical long-term asset, remains low across much of Africa, with significant consequences for institutions and businesses.
He urged leaders to be consistent, fair and trustworthy, noting that authentic leadership is demonstrated during moments of pressure rather than convenience.
“If you are a leader, emphasise continuity not convenience and build a culture that empowers people, stating also the true leaders show up when there is pressure,” he said.
He concluded by calling for the emergence of a new generation of African leaders anchored in values, trust and stewardship across all sectors, emphasising that leadership impact should be measured not by titles, profit or applause, but by what leaders leave behind and the people they empower to lead next.
The JLC 2026 brought together leaders from business, government, faith-based organisations and civil society to examine leadership development and sustainable impact on the continent.