Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has identified leadership as the central problem facing Nigeria, asserting that correcting leadership at all levels would lead to improvements across the board.
Obasanjo said this while addressing the issue in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the 2024 Leadership Empowerment International Conference (LEIC), he criticized the self-serving and uninformed leadership that he believes plagues the country. He emphasized the need for Nigerians to adopt and promote responsive, responsible, and transformational leadership to achieve effective governance and a better nation.
Obasanjo’s remarks came as he attended the conference, where the Immanuel Theology Institute International, based in South Africa, and Nigeria’s Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative Inc (PLDI) honored notable individuals with honorary Doctorates in Leadership (D.L) and Theology (D.Th). Among the recipients were former Ogun State Commissioners Mr. Anthony Ojeshina and Hon. Dele Obadina, former PDP Chairman, Chief Joju Fadairo, and Penpushing Media Founder, Prince Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji.
The former president praised Prof. Olusesi Obateye, International Coordinator of the Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative, and Prof. Van Den Berg Edward Alfred, President of the South African institute, for their efforts in recognizing and nurturing leadership potential among Nigerians.
Obasanjo stressed, “There is no end to leadership and service to your community until you breathe your last. You can never be too old to lead and contribute to your community, state, country, and beyond.”
He concluded by reaffirming that Nigeria’s greatest challenge is its leadership, which he described as self-centered, lacking in knowledge, and failing to prioritize service. He urged that, to set things right, Nigeria must cultivate effective leadership at every level, echoing the commendable efforts of Prof. Obateye in this regard.
