…as Former NBC DG Urges Emeka Mba, Charges Graduands to Embrace Communication as Core of Leadership
By Gloria Ikibah
The School of Communications and Media Studies, Learn To Live Business School UK, has held it convocation celebrating graduates from its first and second Post-Graduate Diploma cohorts alongside the 2025 Master Class group. Together known as the “Titans”, they have completed an intensive programme on PGD and Masters in Strategic Communications and Media Management Consultancy.
Delivering his convocation lecture, Former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission and MD/CEO of Afia Television, Emeka Mba, emphasised the crucial role of communication in leadership, personal growth, and organisational success.
Speaking to graduands, on Saturday November 29, in Abuja,
Mba who underscored that the modern world demands far more than qualifications, argued that without strong communication skills, no professional, regardless of talent or industry can truly excel.
He referred to the digital environment that connects everyone through mobile phones and online platforms and said:
“That if you lack the tools, the necessary tools
to communicate, you’ve started on the wrong foot.
“That is the key. It’s your ability to communicate”.
To demonstrate the enduring power of communication, Mba drew on historical examples, asking the audience to imagine how ancient leaders inspired their followers.
“Can you imagine what Alexander the Great must have said to his army? To convince thousands of men to march over 13,000 kilometres to conquer half the world. What did he tell them? How did he tell them to join me in this pursuit to conquer half the world?”, he said.
While ancient leaders relied solely on voice and presence, he noted, today’s communicators have microphones, the internet, and countless digital tools, yet the underlying skill remains the same.
His message to the graduating students was clear: communication grounded in empathy is at the heart of effective leadership.
Mba also touched on the role of artificial intelligence, cautioning students against overestimating its abilities.
“You think you can do everything with AI; the first failure might even be in your prompting.
“That you do not even know how to communicate with the machine in such a way that the machine will even give you what you want”, he said.
Reflecting on the value of learning, he challenged the belief that great communicators are born.
“A lot of people have argued that excellent communicators are born… but the fact is that that is a big fat lie,” he said, invoking examples like Ronaldo, King George VI, Churchill, and the Greek orator Demosthenes.
Using stories of leaders with speech impediments who trained relentlessly, he emphasised that communication is a skill sharpened through practice, not a natural gift.
As he turned to contemporary Nigerian politics, Mba suggested that even leaders at the highest level struggle if they cannot communicate effectively, noting the frustrations citizens often experience when their leaders cannot clearly articulate vision or direction.
He also reminded the audience that communication extends beyond speech and urged graduates to view their certification not as the end of learning, but as the beginning of a deeper, lifelong journey.
“Your learning is not over. This is actually the beginning of a new type of learning,” he said.
While technology is reshaping the world, he warned that emotional connection continues to decline, a gap only human communication can close.
“The value of communicating clearly, emotionally, and contextually becomes even more important.
“I hope that the tools that you have… will give you the opportunity to grow and to benefit whatever organisation you’re in, and most importantly, to benefit humanity,” he told the graduands.
In a powerful charge to graduands, the Rector LLBSUK, Dr Kingsley Nelson, urged them to embrace their training as global solution providers rather than conventional job seekers.
Dr Nelson explained that the essence of the LLBSUK model is not certificates, gowns or photographs, but the ability to step into any society and solve real problems.
He said: “Over the years, we’ve seen graduations from month to month, school to school. But the reality is, how many of them can solve problems? How many of the graduates can Solve problems?
The Rector said the institution’s mission is to raise “global citizens” capable of working anywhere in the world, not as routine employees but as thinkers, strategists and consultants who are recognised for their ability to diagnose and resolve complex issues.
Dr Nelson noted that LLBSUK is deliberately unconventional, designed to train people who lead proactively rather than reactively, describing the institution as an ecosystem preparing individuals to occupy advisory positions at the highest levels of governance and industry.
“Our single focus is to groom global citizens. These are men and women who step into any environment and they solve problems… They are seen as solution providers, business doctors… consulting intelligent leaders.
“We don’t intend to be conventional in the years to come. We want to do things the other way round, top leaders around the world rely heavily on consultants.
“There is no meaningful governor, no meaningful president… who doesn’t have sets of consultants behind the scene,” he said.
To illustrate the impact of LLBSUK’s model, the Rector revealed that the institution had already attracted interest from major global powers.
He told graduates that the world of consulting operates on influence rather than publicity.
“McKinsey is about 100 years as we speak. No signpost anywhere. The world is run through secrecy.
“People that run the affairs of this world may be sitting down on that staircase wearing long sleeves, but you won’t know they are the ones in charge” he added.
Dr Nelson also reminded graduands that the convocation ceremony was not a final exit but a transition into a deeper phase of mentorship and training known as “the Conclave,” a private circle where advanced strategic discussions take place.
He urged them to prepare themselves to “rule the world,” insisting that every LLBSUK product who completes the required phases becomes “a potential universal dominator.”
“When you call yourself a consultant, it means I should come to you for solution.
“As you show up, solutions show up… Be a great ambassador for yourself, for the institute, and a proper representative of your family,” he told them.
The Rector expressed pride in the graduating sets, describing them as elite professionals who will redefine Nigeria’s and the world’s future narratives.
“As you go into the next phase of your life,” he said, “be the solution and not the problem to be solved.”
Earlier in his welcome address, the Dean School of Communications and Media Studies LLBSUK, Dr Sammy Ajufo, celebrated the institution’s latest cohort of graduates, describing them as the “Titans” who will help reshape the strategic communications and media consulting landscape.
Dr Ajufo who reflected on the journey that led to the establishment of the faculty and the successful completion of its second academic cycle, recounted the task he was given in 2024 to build the school’s first communications faculty, noting that the support of his colleagues made the vision achievable.
Dr Ajufo expressed gratitude to his academic team and paid tribute to the resilience of students who remained committed to their studies despite personal and professional challenges. He said the programme was intentionally rigorous because it was designed to prepare consultants who could provide critical insight to organisations across the world.
He said the school’s goal was not to produce certificate holders but graduates who would serve as “business doctors” capable of offering specialised guidance to institutions in need of fresh perspectives.
Dr Ajufo commended the latest cohort for distinguishing themselves professionally, noting that none of them was unemployed and most were already advancing in their careers.
He stressed that the true measure of any institution lies in the impact of its graduates, urging them to uphold the school’s reputation wherever they go.
He assured the alumni that the school would continue to support them and encouraged them to seek guidance whenever needed.
The Dean also informed them that those wishing to advance academically would be required to proceed through the school’s consulting programme before accessing higher qualifications such as the doctorate track.
Dr Ajufo reminded the graduates that LLBSUK would call on them periodically to serve as guest faculty for future cohorts, emphasising their ongoing role in shaping the school’s growth.
The ceremony featured presentations of certificates and awards, as well as interactions among students, faculty members, family and friends.
