Anyaso Urges Africa to Rethink Leadership Age, Calls for Business-Savvy Leaders

The Chief Executive Officer of Caades Group, Dr. Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso, has called on African nations to redefine their approach to leadership by prioritizing competence over age and political loyalty. He made this charge while delivering the maiden edition of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) Alumni Association Lecture Series in Abakaliki.

Dr. Anyaso, a successful entrepreneur and alumnus of EBSU, argued that entrusting leadership positions to individuals without prior experience in business management has been a major setback for Nigeria and Africa. According to him, when public office becomes a person’s first encounter with managing large-scale finances, mismanagement is inevitable.

“Governance is essentially the management of collective wealth — how funds are raised, spent, and accounted for. It cannot continue to be a costly apprenticeship,” he said.

He maintained that only those who have built themselves through successful private enterprise should be considered for public service leadership. Entrepreneurship, he added, is not just a career path but a leadership school where individuals develop the moral authority and economic wisdom to shape national policies.

Challenging the prevailing trend of leadership being reserved for those near retirement, Dr. Anyaso insisted that Africa must begin to promote young leaders, beginning from what he described as the “meridian age of 19.”

“Leadership should not be a reward for loyalty but a continuation of service,” he stated.

Reflecting on his personal journey, Dr. Anyaso recounted his humble beginnings in Aba, Abia State, and his early academic struggles at EBSU, where he graduated in 2003 with a degree in English and Literature.

“I didn’t let one grade define me. I chose growth, read books, found mentors, and kept rising after every fall,” he said.

This determination, he noted, led to the founding of Caades Group, which now has significant investments in oil and gas, healthcare, real estate, construction, and hospitality — generating over $1 billion in revenue and creating numerous jobs.

Dr. Anyaso emphasized that education should not be seen as a mere certificate, but as a tool for personal and societal transformation. He also spoke about his return to study at St. John’s University, New York, and how it inspired him to launch the Ahuoma Anyaso Education Foundation, which provides free nursery and primary education to underprivileged children.

To students and young professionals, he shared six guiding principles that took him from the classroom to the boardroom:

1. Start Where You Are – Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Add value from wherever you stand.
2. Turn Knowledge into Value – Solve problems to create opportunities.
3. Never Stop Learning – Keep growing through formal and informal education.
4. Build People, Not Just Profits – Your team is your greatest asset.
5. Give Back as You Grow – True success uplifts others.
6. Lead With Purpose, Not Just Position – Leadership is about service.

He urged students to study not just to pass, but to understand, lead, and collaborate beyond their academic departments. “Grades don’t define your future — grit does,” he said.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Anyaso called on fellow alumni to give back through scholarships, infrastructure development, and mentorship, stressing that they must return as “rainmakers to water the dreams of future generations.”