Leadership is a Call to Service.

Satina Harry-Okoi is an emerging leader from Nigeria, dedicated to transforming governance and tackling the challenges of poor leadership in her country. With over six years of experience as a grassroots mobilizer and community development practitioner, she focuses on governance, quality education, and youth development. 

She holds a degree in History and International Studies, is an alumnus of the Lagos Business School, and has completed a certificate program in Public Leadership and Policy at the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG). As the Founder and Executive Director of the Paragons Leadership Initiative, Satina spearheads leadership training for secondary school student leaders and champions advocacy projects aimed at sustainable development.

Additionally, she is the co-founder of the Citizens Application for Political Participation (CAPP), a civic tech platform that enhances communication between government and citizens. This app empowers over 200 million Nigerians to access civic education, view policy documents, register for political parties, and obtain information about government agencies—all from the comfort of their homes. Satina excels in strategy development and non-profit management, and she is skilled at crafting award-winning proposals and policy briefs.

What is one thing people do not know about you?

I once desired to be a nun. 😂

What sparked your interest in leadership and how has that evolved? 

Being the first child in an African home pushed me early to lead others and influence them positively. This position developed my leadership traits and I held my first official leadership position in 2011 as a high school deputy senior prefect. As a prefect, I enjoyed leading people and providing solutions to their problems and that experience sparked my interest in leadership. I have seen myself holding one position or leading a group of people since then. Upon gaining admission into the university, I was elected as the class representative. 

Afterward, I joined the Student Union Government politics at the University of Calabar, where I served as a parliamentarian in the senate arm of the Student Union Government. While in school, I pioneered the establishment of the All Nigeria United Nations Students Association, University of Calabar Chapter, and in the same year, I served as the Vice President. I also volunteered for a Christian organization ( Federation of Colleges Ex-Students Christian Association) for four years as a chapter executive and led notable projects as their leader. 

Upon graduation, I started the Paragons Leadership Initiative in 2018 and I have led the team as the Executive Director to train over 600 student leaders and champion advocacy projects that promote sustainable development.

Can you share an event, if it exists, where your set beliefs as a leader were challenged and you had to adapt to a new way of leading? 

Running a non-partisan nonprofit requires you to say a big NO to some offers and assistance because they are either against the organization’s values or will make the organization deviate from its non-partisan status. As the executive director of this organization, I once faced a similar situation where we had to turn down support from an individual because their personality and values didn’t align with organizational values and it was a hard decision to make because we were struggling financially at that time. This experience taught me how situations make or mar leaders. My team members today know my stance on certain matters even when I am silent and that is because of the values they have seen me display consistently.

What qualities and attributes are essential for young women to emulate to be outstanding leaders in their respective fields in today's world? 

Two attributes stand out for me every day and time. They are Resilience and Excellence. One of the challenges a young woman will face in running or leading an organization will be the “You are a woman” problem and so, women have to work two times harder than their male counterparts to be seen and heard. Seeing that we have this unique challenge because of our gender, every woman should embrace EXCELLENCE as a quality. Excellence doesn’t only make you outstanding, it gives you a seat at the table and makes your hard work undeniable. Young women shouldn’t settle for less or do things below standard expecting special considerations. 

My favourite scripture, Ecclesiastics 9:10 says “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest”.  I work with this daily because aside from being an idea of God written by King Solomon, it is fulfilling when you do great work. The second quality young women should embrace to be outstanding is RESILIENCE. It was Mary Holloway who said, “Resilience is knowing that you are the only one that has the power and the responsibility to pick yourself up”. This quote resonates deeply with me. Leaders especially women leaders must imbibe this value to withstand the rigors of leadership and stand out.

What achievements have you had as a leader that you're proud of?

I have trained over 600 young leaders who are now part of the pipeline of leaders who will serve our country and lead change. I have watched my team members who joined the team, naive, now taking initiative and becoming more confident. I am happy and proud that I get to raise other leaders who are leading with results. To further solve the problem of leadership in Nigeria, I co-founded a civic tech application that will improve the quality of civic education and empower Nigerians to be proactive participants in shaping the nation we want. With this unique application, over 200 million Nigerians will be equipped to become active and better citizens.

Who is that leader you look up to and why? 

My dad, Mr. Harry Akam Egba is a model leader I look up to. From a tender age, I watched my dad with his basic understanding of leadership lead not less than a team of 50 young men as a supervisor and he did this with so much grace and wisdom. He has led his team for over 10 years and we have seen how his leadership style has affected the lives of his staff positively. My dad displays empathy and genuinely wants to see his people win at their jobs and in life and that is an admirable feature I think every leader should possess. People should pass through your leadership process and become better than when they met you.

What resources or books on leadership would you recommend to someone aspiring to get to top leadership positions? 

I would highly recommend the 360-degree leader by John Maxwell. Reading this book in 2014 shaped my leadership values and inspired me a lot. Also, Lois Frankel’s Nice Girls Still Don’t Get the Corner Office is also a great read, especially for women who want to climb the leadership ladder.

How do you deal with the fear of delegating responsibilities?

I think one of my flaws is that I am not good at delegating things and I sometimes tend to do everything myself because I believe it will be faster. Over time, I discovered that not only was this a bad work culture, but it also stifled the growth of team members because they weren’t challenged to do those tasks I would always carry on. There is no best time to delegate a task. For me, delegation should be a form of training team members because the more you delegate tasks to them, the more you replicate yourself and your abilities in them. Over time, I now delegate but I also create a monitoring system that ensures that the quality of work done is in line with organizational standards and excellence as well. In delegating, I also remind my team members and myself that excellence is continuous improvement so there is room for corrections and doing better.

How do you effectively balance your personal life and professional life? 

While I believe that work-life balance is a facade and not realistic, I create systems and structures that are independent of me to a high extent. With these systems in place, my work can continue without me being physically present and active. I also enjoy my holidays and make judicious use of them.

Shouldering the responsibility for other people’s actions must be a hassle. How do you approach this? 

Leadership is a call to service and from the moment you identify as a leader, shouldering the responsibilities of people becomes a need. I find fulfillment in lending help or being of service, so it comes easy to me. If someone is in need, I usually won’t rest until he or she gets a solution. My friends will always tell me how dependable I am and it is fulfilling when I help people achieve their personal and professional goals.

In what ways do you motivate your team?

Different team members have their specific motivators and my duty as their leader is to find out what that is and use it effectively. For some team members, it could be words of encouragement and acknowledgment, and for others, it is a reward that comes in different forms.

How do you balance staying true to your values while adapting to different expectations? 

Because we live in a complex world, it is sometimes difficult for a leader to stay true to their values but it doesn’t mean it is impossible to stick to the values you have imbibed as a leader. The hack here is to find common ground where your values aren’t eliminated and you are not too rigid to see things from another person’s perspective. 

⁠What advice would you give to someone struggling with imposter syndrome in their leadership role? 

You must continually tell yourself that you are worthy and the best man for the job! Imposter syndrome is a creation of our imagination and to kill it, we must constantly tell ourselves that we are the best! Constantly affirm yourself and do the hard things you have always feared. I had so many reasons not to do things outside my comfort zone but here I am today doing things afraid and winning!

⁠How do you handle moments of doubt or uncertainty in your leadership decisions? 

I take a moment to breathe and strategize. Most times, I talk to someone more knowledgeable to seek counsel and advice. I also pray about it because I believe in the power of prayer and asking God for help.

What is your advice for women aspiring for leadership positions? 

Go for it!!! Do not allow anything or anybody to stop you. As you aspire for any position, you need to prepare to be the best in that role and do the work!

Your organization is focused on training young secondary school prefects and honing their leadership skills. How pivotal is effective leadership considering the Nigerian sphere? 

Nigeria is still grappling with poor leadership even in the year 2024! Our poor leadership has exacerbated our economic woes which has contributed to widespread poverty, inadequate infrastructure, high unemployment rates, and rampant corruption. These alarming trends underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive and multifaceted strategy to address the leadership crisis and ensure sustainable development in Nigeria. With effective and purposeful leadership and leaders, the future of our country will be secured. Me and my team at Paragons Leadership Initiative, believe that the future of leadership lies with our young leaders in high schools, hence the need to train and equip them for the future. We are hopeful that we are creating a pipeline of leaders who will serve this country and lead change.