Obasanjo launches leadership institute to tackle Africa’s leadership deficit

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo unveils Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute to raise a new generation of people-focused African leaders

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]lusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute has been officially launched by Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as a bold step towards transforming leadership development across Africa.

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The announcement was made on Tuesday via a statement from his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi.

Obasanjo described the institute as a strategic response to Africa’s enduring leadership challenges, saying it aims to close the “yawning gaps” in the continent’s leadership narrative.

Though not a military body, the former president explained that the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI) would adopt the discipline and values found in military training and institutions such as the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.

“The goal,” he said, “is to raise a new generation of conscientious, principled, prepared, and people-focused leaders for Africa.”

Speaking during the inauguration of the institute’s governing board at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Obasanjo, who also chairs the board, urged members to be guided by the belief that Africa’s greatest asset is its people.

“For more than 70 years, I have observed and engaged with the complex tapestry of Africa’s developmental journey,” he noted.

“While our continent is rich in human and natural endowments, we have persistently fallen short in translating this potential into sustainable development, peace, and prosperity—largely because of deficits in leadership at various levels.”

He continued: “I conceived OOLI as a platform to raise and strengthen leaders who are not only equipped for today’s realities but also prepared to navigate the complexities of tomorrow.”

Obasanjo confirmed that the institute has received formal approval from Nigeria’s National Universities Commission and will run in affiliation with Bells University of Technology.

The former president also praised the leadership contributions of key African statespersons, including Ghana’s President John Mahama, former Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, South Africa’s Kgalema Motlanthe, and Senegal’s Macky Sall.

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Their collective efforts, he said, offer hope that a new leadership narrative is possible for Africa—and the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute is poised to play a defining role in that transformation.