Between Nyesom Wike and Ireti Kingibe: A Role Play for Systemic Change Using the 3rd Entity Tool

When I envisioned this role play in January, my goal was to release it in March, a month dedicated to celebrating women in leadership and advocating for greater inclusion in governance.

The message is clear: we cannot afford friction between the men who dominate leadership and the few women elected to serve.

Little did I know that by its release, the Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan vs. Senate President Akpabio situation would unfold, further highlighting deep systemic issues we have yet to address.

We need men as allies, not adversaries. True progress comes when they champion, mentor, and create space for women in leadership, not as a favour, but as a necessity for national growth and balanced governance.

Harnessing Conflict for Collaboration

Leadership is relational, with success often hinging on the quality of our interactions, yet too often, it is marked by tension and defensiveness, stalling progress. As a Systems Performance and Executive Coach, I set out to demonstrate how systemic relationship coaching can turn conflict into collaboration.

Using the Third Entity coaching technique, I facilitated a conflict resolution role play between Senator Ireti Kingibe and Minister Wike, portrayed by actors. This method encouraged a shift in perspective, fostering empathy and alignment on what truly matters.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

We live in a VUCA world, one marked with volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity – where diverse perspectives and competing interests are inevitable. To succeed, we must stop fearing conflict and start harnessing it as a catalyst for innovation and progress.

The Good News?

Emotional, Social, and Relationship Intelligence (ESRI) can be learned at any stage. Better yet, we can embed these skills into our education system for employability and leadership readiness, to build a more collaborative and effective leadership culture.

This role play is more than an exercise, it’s an invitation to rethink how we navigate leadership conflicts in Nigeria. Real progress happens where diversity collides and collaboration thrives for a nexus effect.