By Adesina Wahab

The Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI) has held its maiden convocation and induction ceremony, marking a historic milestone in its mission to raise a new generation of ethical, visionary, and development driven leaders for Nigeria and Africa.

The event featured a powerful convocation lecture delivered by Professor Banji Oyelaran Oyeyinka, Senior Special Adviser on Industrialisation to the African Development Bank Group, titled “Leadership and Economic Development.”

In his lecture, Professor Oyelaran Oyeyinka delivered a compelling and data rich analysis of Nigeria’s leadership challenges and the urgent need for a new leadership ethos.

He emphasized that leadership determines the social, political, and economic trajectory of nations.

That vision, strategic planning, merit based appointments, crisis management, and integrity are non negotiable qualities for national transformation.

He noted that Nigeria’s development has been hindered by a persistent “vision–execution gap,” weak institutions, predatory governance, and the resource curse.

He opined that countries such as Singapore, South Korea, Rwanda, Vietnam, and China demonstrate how disciplined leadership and industrial policy can transform nations within decades.

He urged Nigeria to embrace value based recruitment, strengthen institutions, industrialize agriculture, and invest heavily in human capital.

He also recommended that OOLI establish a Nigerian Youth Leadership Academy to nurture future leaders grounded in ethics, policy competence, and national service.

In his remarks, former President Olusegun Obasanjo congratulated the inductees and reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to grooming leaders who would place national interest above personal gain.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Director and Chief Executive Officer, General Martin Luther Agwai (Rtd.), described OOLI as a response to Africa’s urgent need for quality leadership.

He noted that the Institute was conceived as a nursery for grooming a new breed of leaders, a centre for practical, innovative, and experiential leadership training, a platform to catalyze development from the family unit to the global stage.

Deputy Chief Executive, Professor Samuel Daramola, assured participants that OOLI would continue to collaborate with leading global institutions to deliver world class, practice based leadership education.

Several inductees shared their experiences, praising the Institute’s curriculum, faculty, and vision.

Pastor Seun Aderibigbe, Senior Pastor, RCCG; who is also a lawyer, celebrated the quality of training and highlighted OOLI’s innovative leadership programme for secondary school prefects, an initiative he personally benefited from as a former Lagos State head boy.

He described OOLI as a continuation of President Obasanjo’s enduring legacy across generations.

Ambassador Dr. Deji Bolusemihi, the Managing Director, Midfield Insurance Brokers Ltd; applauded the facilitators and emphasized that OOLI’s curriculum promotes a new model of Afrodemocracy tailored to Africa’s developmental realities.

He encouraged corporate organizations to adopt OOLI’s programmes for leadership renewal.

Professor Elvis Otobo, who is based in the United Kingdom, commended the Institute’s international faculty and noted President Obasanjo’s experiential insights into Africa’s leadership deficits as a highlight of the programme.

The maiden convocation of OOLI signalled the beginning of a long term continental project to redefine leadership culture in Africa. With its blend of global expertise, practical training, and ethical grounding, the Institute aims to produce leaders capable of driving sustainable development, institutional reform, and national transformation.