Photo caption : From left: Director General, Commonwealth Institute of Advanced Professional Studies (CIAPS), Dr. Anthony Kila; Ms. Yemisi Ransome-Kuti; Alara of Ilara, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo; CIAPS’ Award recipient, Miss Nafisat Adulahi Aminu; Her Father/ Commissioner for Religious Affairsand Ethical Reorientation, Yobe State, Alhaji Yusuf Umar; Senator Femi Kila; and former Managing Director, Daily Times Nigeria Plc, Chief Tola Adeniyi at the 2025 Awards and Public lecture of CIAPS at Victoria Island, Lagos…at the weekend
…Says Excellence Must Be Rewarded, Poor Performance Sanctioned
The Director of the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies, (CIAPS), Prof. Anthony Kila, has called for a deliberate drive not only towards achieving excellence but also making it a culture in Nigeria.
He made the call while delivering the Commonwealth Institute End-of-the-Year Public Lecture, Awards Ceremony & Cocktail 2025, with the theme, “Creating and Managing a Culture of Excellence for Productivity” in Lagos.
Kila submitted that excellence is revolutionary social construct that demands validation, comparison, and zero tolerance for mediocrity,
He advocated for excellence at all times and in any environment where people find themselves, adding that ‘our best is not always good enough.
Kila, who made it an interactive one by throwing the word “Excellence” at the participants,wanting to know from them what the word means to them .
While some said it means “perfect”, others said it means something that has no errors or no mistakes or blemishes.
Satisfied that most participants know the meaning, the Director explained that the word “Excellence” is derived from the Latin idea of “standing out,” ,adding that it is not a solo declaration but something societies or entities must deliberately and openly strive for and also agree on.
He said that it has been scientifically proven that less than 1 per cent of people consciously and intentionally strive to achieve excellence, despite the fact that most of them crave for quality.
He cautioned against working in isolation, adding that the absence of external standards may make many people to fall into the illusion that they are performing well or doing their best.
He pointed out that though many people strive for excellence, they however don’t have the commensurate self discipline required to achieve it.
Nigeria and Nigerians, he said must make the pursuit of excellence an intentional culture for both the leaders and the led, adding that it is by doing this the country can achieve excellence in whatever it does.
He decried a situation in Nigeria where major investments are often frustrated by the attitude and poor maintenance culture, which most times contributes to derailing the goals of the entities.
The Public Affairs Analyst also decried a situation in Nigeria where employees casually degrade premium environments, which further lower the value and productivity of the organisation
He recommended that the way out is for leaders to be allergic to poor standards and ensure that there is reward for excellence and sanctions for substandard,poor performance or mediocrity at all time.
The reward for excellence, Kila noted will encourage the excellent performer to maintain and sustain his performance while the sanctions for mediocrity will help reawaken or reshape those that have been performing below standards.
He opined that it is by doing this that we can make excellence a deliberate culture in Nigeria.
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