It has usually been accepted that the success of any organisation or nation depends on the
ability of its leader to govern and manage its affairs. The failure of most developing countries,
especially Nigeria, has often been blamed on bad leadership. Most Nigerians are of the opinion
that the leadership problem in Nigeria has been the major impediment in the nation’s
development. Most people also agree that corruption and bad governance, which are prevalent
in Nigeria today, are the results of leadership failure. The consensus among scholars, critics
and observers of the Nigerian state is that the current situation of the nation is the result of lack
of good and purposeful leadership. It is because of leadership failure in the country that
Nigerians today clamor for good and purposeful leadership. This paper is a contribution to the
search for the long-awaited leader. This paper examines Barnabas’ character using the narrative
method.
CONTRIBUTION : This article reveals that Barnabas was a bridge-builder, team player, nondiscriminatory
and not power or position drunk and these are the traits that should be used as
a model in selecting or electing leaders within ecclesiastical and secular circles.
Description:
This study is part of the
research project ‘Africa
Platform for NT Scholars’,
directed by Prof. Dr Ernest
van Eck, Department of
New Testament Studies and
Related Literature, Faculty
of Theology and Religion,
University of Pretoria.
Special Collection: Africa Platform for NT Scholars, sub-edited by Ernest van Eck (University of Pretoria).
