By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage– Stakeholders have identified trust as the missing link in Nigeria’s quest for sustainable development, warning that weak confidence in leadership and institutions continues to undermine governance, economic growth, and national unity.
The concern was raised at the 10th edition of the Akinjide Adeosun Foundation Leadership Discourse and Awards, themed “Trust Surplus: An Imperative for Building a Wealthy Sovereign Nation,” where stakeholders called for urgent, deliberate efforts to rebuild trust as the cornerstone of national progress.
Convener of the discussion, Pharmacist Akinjide Adeosun noted that trust is a key driver of economic growth and social stability, adding that societies with higher levels of trust record stronger investment, innovation, and institutional performance.
He defined trust as the expectation that individuals and institutions will act consistently in line with shared values, adding that its absence fuels inefficiency and weakens governance systems.
He, however, urged leaders across sectors to prioritise ethical behaviour and institutional accountability, stressing that rebuilding trust must begin at home, in communities, and within public institutions.
At the cross-sector panel discussion, experts stressed that rebuilding trust across homes, institutions, and governance systems is critical to achieving national development and a “trust surplus” in society.
Contributors from medicine, technology, and family life examined how trust influences governance, healthcare, education, and economic performance.
Rear Admiral Bolanle Ati-John (Rtd) noted that the theme is not merely philosophical but practical and measurable, addressing one of the most critical development questions of our time: why some nations with fewer natural advantages achieve stable prosperity, while resource-rich countries remain economically fragile.
He observed that although Nigeria earned substantial oil revenues over several decades, poverty expanded rather than declined. In contrast, Norway despite discovering oil laterconverted its resources into sustainable prosperity through transparent governance and strong institutional credibility.
Ati-John argued that the central development question is not whether resources matter, but what transforms resources into prosperity.
Trust as Strategic Capital. He posited that the missing variable is trust not as sentiment, but as institutional predictability.
According to him, nations become wealthy not merely because they possess resources, but because their institutions generate reliable expectations about how power is exercised and how rules are applied.
“Where trust exceeds uncertainty, wealth compounds. Where uncertainty exceeds trust, instability compounds,” he said, describing this condition as a trust surplus.
He explained that trust exists when citizens believe contracts will be honoured, disputes resolved fairly, laws enforced consistently, and policies maintained within predictable boundaries.
A trust surplus, he added, emerges when these expectations are strong enough to influence behaviour across society encouraging long-term investment, voluntary compliance, and efficient institutional performance.
Also speaking at the event, The Right Reverend Babatunde Ogunbanwo has said Nigeria’s development depends on building trust among citizens rather than relying solely on government structures.
Ogunbanwo, stressed that trust is rooted in people’s values and mindset, warning that treating public office as a means of personal gain undermines integrity and weakens national cohesion.
Describing trust as an “economic multiplier,” he said it drives investment, innovation, and effective governance, and should be treated as a strategic national asset.
Ogunbanwo urged leaders to institutionalise trust through accountability and value-driven leadership across all sectors of society.
A cardiologist, Prof Kamar Adeleke noted that trust in healthcare is built through confidentiality, professionalism, and consistent ethical conduct between doctors and patients, adding that breakdowns in trust can undermine patient care and public confidence.
A Technology expert, Dr Juliet Ehimuan said trust in digital systems depends on reliability, data protection, and consistency, warning that weak safeguards can erode confidence in institutions and services.
A family and social relations contributor, Mrs Remilekun Soyannwo noted that trust begins at home, arguing that values such as honesty and integrity within families form the foundation for trust in wider society.
She added that breakdowns in family trust often reflect in community and national instability.
Discussions also highlighted leadership behaviour in building trust, with panelists citing examples of leaders who engage directly with communities as a way of strengthening confidence and accountability.The session concluded that trust surplus, where confidence in systems outweighs distrust, can improve governance efficiency, increase public cooperation, and enhance national productivity, while trust deficits continue to hinder development.
