Who are the bankers of tomorrow and how could the problem of leadership and moral question be solved in the banking industry through these leaders of tomorrow ?

Bankers of tomorrow are students scattered all over the  institutions of higher learning receiving educational instructions in banking and finance and other allied courses. These crops of young men and women are the people on whose shoulder the crest of leadership in the sector will fall and who will also ensurie that standards and professional ethics are not compromised. To achieve these lofty aims there is need to imbibe in them leadership qualities, and moral values such as honesty, integrity, selflessness and professional competence, as all these will set them in good stead in facing the complex challenges in the real world.

The size and complexity of challenges facing bankers are high and numerous. In fact corporate banking world are characterized by bribery, corruption fraud, facilitation payments, harassments, cut throat competition, discrimination issues among others. These forms of unethical practices if not checked and managed effectively could bring the banking industry into disrepute and erode what is left of public trust and confidence in the banking industry. Therefore the need to address moral and leadership question is pertinent in view of the past crises in the financial world popularly known as financial melt down where leading corporate businesses such as Enron, Arthur Anderson among others all failed as a result of a failed leadership for a variety of reasons which may include pressure to achieve, perform and win at all cost.

Coming closer home in Nigeria there were reported cases of bank failure which were attributed to unethical practices by the leadership of such banks. In fact, the Nigerian banking sub-sector was at the point of collapse in 1997, when twenty six commercial bankers failed due to financial irregularities. Also in August 2011, three Nigerian banks namely Spring bank, plc, Afribank plc and Bank PHB all failed due to financial irregularities of their respective corporate managers.

In view of all these development there is need to instill moral discipline and ethical leadership in bankers of tomorrow who will help in bringing growth and stability to the industry. Banking industry need young and vibrant people that can connect well with others and are able to build relationship and effectively communicate as they help in creating best customer relationship build on trust. These bankers of tomorrow when integrated into the industry must not shrink from their obligation. They will need to lead by example by defining their corporate norms and values, live up to expectation, and encourage their followers to adopt same.

At this  moment there is need  for all stakeholders in the industry to come together and formulate educational policies that will see to the inclusion of ethical and leadership development in the curriculum of the academic institutions. Also, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) should extend their working relationship with more academic institutions through their linkage programmes as this will ensure that all the institution work towards CIBN standards. And finally there should be speedy implementation of the Act that prevent banks from employing people without CIBN qualification as only professional bankers grounded in practice, law and ethics of banking will be able to navigate the problematic and murky water of leadership and moral terrain. We should not forget that addressing the problems of leadership and moral values is tantamount to enhancing sound practices and professional competence which should be the hall mark of the banking industry.