Former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili
Prominent figures, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, a former Nigerian Minister of Education, and Pastor Tunde Bakare have pinpointed corruption and ineffective leadership as the primary hurdles stifling Nigeria’s advancement, urging a cultural and systemic overhaul to foster true growth.
The duo shared their insights during a special event in Lagos on Saturday, September 6, 2025, marking the launch of the inaugural cohort for the Advanced Diploma in Public Leadership and Statecraft at the Citadel School of Governance.
This nine-month program, developed in collaboration with the University of Lagos Business School, welcomed around 70 participants, with Bakare personally subsidizing the tuition to make it accessible.
Ezekwesili expressed dismay at the apparent complacency among Nigerians toward the nation’s persistent woes, asserting that the country has no excuse for its ongoing underperformance.
She praised Bakare’s educational venture as a vital step forward, while decrying how rampant corruption has crippled institutions across public and private spheres, eroding the foundations of national development.
Drawing a stark analogy, Ezekwesili compared corruption to a deadly disease: “Corruption remains corrosive and, if unchecked, becomes systemic. She likened corruption to cancer, warning it had already drained several generations of opportunities.”
She further condemned the increasing acceptance of graft as a profound injustice, calling it “a betrayal of future generations for short-term gains.”
Pastor Bakare, who serves as the overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, emphasized that true leadership demands lifelong education and the removal of incompetent figures from positions of power.
He positioned the school as a beacon for cultivating skilled leaders ready to tackle governance issues not just in Nigeria but across Africa.
“The Citadel School of Governance was founded to become a globally recognised institution producing great leaders,” Bakare declared, clarifying that the initiative stems from a pure commitment to national renewal rather than financial or electoral motives. His vision includes building adaptable societies with accountable administrations, where expertise, dedication, and creativity shape policy and progress.
Bakare also highlighted the need to close Nigeria’s leadership deficits by introducing contemporary strategies and promoting seamless transitions between private-sector expertise and public service roles.
Executive Director of the University of Lagos Business School, Prof. Michael Adebamowo, outlined the curriculum’s focus on practical, solution-oriented training to equip enrollees for real-world challenges. As Nigeria grapples with these deep-rooted issues, such programs signal hope for a leadership renaissance that could finally unlock the country’s vast potential.(NAN)
