INTRODUCTION

Leadership is defined in many ways and to varying degrees, but it is predominantly expressed as the ability to develop others and the desire to inspire followership. People tend to follow those who inspire actions that produce desired results. To me, leaders are born, not made. Born leaders find it easier to develop and improve their leadership abilities than those who are made leaders. God ordained leadership, and having the opportunity to lead is a privilege one must take earnestly. So, people in leadership positions are to honor Christ, the most outstanding leader and the best example of leadership. We must also ask for his guidance in prayer to lead appropriately and gracefully.

As Christians, we are all leaders in our own right, showing others how to follow Christ. To be an effective and impactful leader, we must make Christ our mentor and be rooted in the word and knowledge of God. Accordingly, the word of God says, “When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan” – Proverbs 29:2 NLT. Our focus should be on being the leader who makes the people rejoice, cultivating godly character instilled by a relationship with God for a purposeful, impactful, and fulfilling experience.

BIRTH

I am Her Majesty, Dame Evangelist, Dr. Josephine Aruoriwo Diete-Spiff, Esq.,
JP, Queen of Twon Brass Kingdom, the Amazon of the Niger Delta. The Twon
Ibe Opuyingibo of Twon Brass Kingdom in Bayelsa State, the President of the
Queens of the Niger Delta Initiative, and the wife of King Alfred Papapereye
Diete-Spiff, CFR, Amanyanabo (king) of Twon Brass Kingdom, also the first
Military Governor of old Rivers State, Nigeria. I was born on January 14th, 1967, to the late Rev. (Dr) D. U. Akporero, an educationist, acclaimed writer, publisher, and the late Rev. (Mrs.) Florence Ozomaro Akporero, an educationist. I am an ordained Anglican Evangelist with a healing and deliverance calling.

I had a humble beginning. My parents had issues with children dying. They had 12 children and lost 5. I am my parents’ third and first daughter. According to them, they had buried their first child, a female, and another after my eldest brother. Then came my immediate elder brother, but before my birth, they buried three more, making five deaths in total.

Except for the first child, who was already two years old when she died, the others died at their naming ceremony. So, my parents were skeptical that I would survive. Right from my naming ceremony, I kept having convulsions, and in the space of 6 months, they visited the hospital once every week. As God would have it, before my 6th month’s birthday, my mum and her visiting friend had a guest who came to minister Christ to them. While the guest tried to expound the gospel to them, my mum asked him to pray for me first because they had plans to dispose of me as soon as possible due to the cost they were incurring in taking me to the hospital and the fear that, like my late siblings, I might not make it to adolescence.

According to my mum, the guest looked at me playing on a mat and said, “Do not let her go; she will be the one to look after you in your old age. She will marry a man who has just been made governor of one of the states of Nigeria. He will be a King, and she will be His Queen. She is a Nazareth; sew a cap to cover her head, and don’t let anyone touch her head except you. She will be fine, and you will never see any of your children die again.”
My mum and her friend laughed at him in scorn. But a week later, when the convulsions started again, my mum told my dad, and they bought a cap for me, and that was the end of my ailment. However, they forgot the rest of the prophecy until I met my husband in 1990, 23 years later, when I was the president of the students’ union at the University of Port Harcourt. That was when it was revealed to my mum again in a dream, which led them to the approval of my marriage to my husband after the initial refusal.

EDUCATION AND BUSINESS

I firmly believe in success. I set goals for myself and work hard at attaining them. I was Head Girl at the Primary School level, Senior Prefect at the Secondary Level, and Student Union President at the University. I craved more in life and pursued my dreams, letting my goals grow. I carried blocks on a building site to pay for my West African School Certificate examination. Despite severe financial challenges, I graduated with honors in Theatre Arts from the University of Port Harcourt. I worked during the holidays, and the little money I made sustained me through school. I made and sold coconut candy, ‘chin-chin,’ a local pastry, and later graduated to the sale of ‘Okirika’ clothes (second-hand clothes) and other materials. I ate once a day, a formula dubbed 001 by students. I lived on fruits and corn (in their seasons). ‘Smoked’ garri (a cassava product and staple in the region), among others, to survive. I learnt the difference between wants and needs. Still, despite that scarcity, I gave to those in need and trained my siblings, their children, and others who were less advantaged. I led every establishment I got entangled in, except for my refusal-there was always a space and an encouragement for me to lead.

I have a hunger for knowledge. After my first degree, with three children, the man of my dreams, and owning my business, I returned to school. I hold a
Master’s and Doctorate in Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts and Law
Degrees, Microfinance banker’s certificate, and a graduate certificate in Education. I also hold diplomas in French, Computer Science, and Christian Ministry. I am a certified marriage mentor, relationship coach, certified Fitness instructor, and licensed financial professional.

In recognition of my work as an educationist, banker, and other social contributions, I have received several global awards.

There were, of course, some challenges along the way. I had an encounter in the
Law School where I lost the use of my right hand for over a month before my Bar exams. I also had people trying to disorient my focus, and I even dreamt that the enemy was trying to prevent me from graduating. But to God be the glory. My hand started writing on the first day of my exams, and I graduated in my first sitting without losing my focus in Christ.

I have been in business for over three decades. I manage four companies and an
NGO (non-governmental organization)- a school, Titare Star Royal Academy
(Activity Class, Base, Basic, Year 7-9 and Year 10-12), formerly Bereton College, an Educational and Consultancy Institution, and three business outfits, namely Four-Time Product Nigeria Ltd, Peretogu Integrated Services, Nigeria, and Miracle Development Leadership Services, USA. I pioneered the NGO, Her Majesty Dr Josephine Diete-Spiff Foundation for widows, orphans, the physically challenged, and older adults. I own majority shares in my entire establishment and serve as Chairperson/Chief Executive Officer. I am swamped, working from the office to church and social functions.

I am an ordained evangelist of the Anglican Communion and an author of several books and publications. I have two academic publications online and four books on Amazon, namely Determining Sustainable Strategies for Directors of Microfinance Banks in Nigeria, Dare to Dream (for Teens), Dare to Dream (for adults), and True Worship.

TO BE CONTINUED……..