Kaduna: Major General Abubakar Ndalolo, the Chief of Training at the Nigerian Army Headquarters, has emphasized the significance of transformational leadership. He highlighted that the effective utilization of expert power plays a crucial role in inspiring followership and fostering mutuality within contemporary military operations. General Ndalolo emphasized that transformational leadership is more ideal in today’s military environment compared to transactional approaches. He made this known while delivering a lecture on ‘Military Leadership’ at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, in Kaduna State.
According to Voice of Nigeria, transformational leadership requires charisma, admiration, and mutual respect and expert power, which stems from professional knowledge and competence. ‘These forms of power, he argued, inspire trust, confidence, and respect among subordinates and stakeholders, making them more sustainable than coercion or reward-based authority,’ he said. He explained that leaders do not necessarily need natural charisma but can consciously imbibe and cultivate it to inspire followership by projecting professionalism, credibility, and shared values, even leaders lacking innate charisma can still motivate their teams effectively.
General Ndalolo highlighted that expertise is equally critical in shaping confidence and trust within the ranks. ‘A leader’s technical and professional mastery not only strengthens morale but also assures subordinates and partners that decisions are grounded in competence,’ he added. He further stressed that in contemporary theatres of operation, success requires building mutuality with all stakeholders including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, other security agencies, NGOs, civil society groups, and the media.
He maintained that harmonious collaboration can only be achieved through transformational leadership that fosters common goals and shared values. The General contrasted transformational and transactional leadership which at the tactical level, transactional leadership relies on legitimate, coercive, and reward power which may be necessary when directly commanding troops in the field. However, at the strategic level, where multiple stakeholders are involved, transformational leadership becomes indispensable.
He cautioned that relying solely on transactional methods often results in conflict, rivalry, or mistrust among agencies, thereby undermining unity in the operational environment. Conversely, transformational leadership strengthens interagency trust, prevents disputes, and promotes collective ownership of objectives. Ndalolo also underscored the necessity of exercising leadership beyond authority, pointing out that solutions in complex security environments must come from broad collaboration, including actors outside one’s direct circle of command.
He urged military leaders to identify requirements for success in every unique situation rather than applying the same formula repeatedly. He maintained that the most effective military leadership today involves shifting away from transactional practices and embracing transformational approaches based on expert knowledge. ‘This will foster shared values, unify stakeholders, isolate threats, and ultimately ensure mission success in contemporary operations,’ he said.