Trip to Boston

I had the tremendous fortune of having lunch and an afternoon with Nasir El-Rufai in Boston. For those unfamiliar, he served as as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) Nigeria from July 2004 to May 2007. He tenure and leadership were characterized by a straight shooting, equality driven approach without concession for anyone. For those unfamiliar with Nigerian politics, this is practically unheard of. No, it is unheard of. Though he rubbed several (more like many) the wrong way with his approach, I’m certain that anyone who experienced Abuja when he ran it will speak glowingly of his term. He, his wife Hadiza, and I spent some time in his modest apartment, eating Thai food, and at the hotel room of another Nigerian luminary now with the World Bank. He’s now moved on to a fellowship at Harvard’s Kennedy School and I’m sure that those familiar with Abuja will no doubt view his tenure as synonymous with public leadership at it’s highest – no small task. Anywhere. We spoke about performance management, challenges of leaving a positive legacy, inspiring and motivating staff, urban planning, public sector leadership, and much much more. This was one of those afternoons when you realize how great it is to be alive.