Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has issued a compelling call to action, urging today’s leaders to uphold transparency, truthfulness, and selflessness in their dealings with the youth — whom he described not as future leaders, but as present-day stakeholders in national progress.
Speaking on Saturday during the maiden lecture and grand reunion of the Nigerian chapter of the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) Alumni Association, the elder statesman highlighted the critical role of leadership in shaping the future.
The event was held in Abeokuta, with Obasanjo represented by Prof. Samuel Daramola, Deputy Director of the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute.
Delivering a lecture themed “ _The Challenges of Youth in a Fractured World,”_ Obasanjo painted a vivid picture of youth as a season of idealism, dreams, energy, and hope — a phase every current leader has once passed through.
> “Some of us were youth immediately after the Second World War; I was. Most of you were youth at the height of the Cold War. The world wasn’t perfect, but there was order, respect for international law, and shared responsibility among global powers,” he said.
He lamented the increasingly uncertain and volatile global environment that young people must now navigate, describing the present era as one marred by impunity, unpredictability, and eroding values.
> “Today’s youth face monumental challenges in a fractured world — and they should not be left to navigate these alone.”
Obasanjo emphasized the need for leaders to stop mortgaging the future by misusing resources meant for the next generation. Instead, he said, genuine investment in youth inclusion and development is non-negotiable.
> “Youth are not leaders of tomorrow — they are leaders today. They must be actively engaged in shaping both the present and the future,” he added.
As grand patron of the alumni association, Obasanjo further urged young Nigerians to cultivate resilience and self-reliance — qualities he believes are essential for thriving in an increasingly complex world.
Earlier, President of the RCDS Alumni Association, Maj.-Gen. Oluwaseun Oshinowo (Rtd), emphasized the strategic importance of the group in contributing to national conversations.
> “This reunion is not just ceremonial. It’s about offering ideas and insights that can help move Nigeria forward at a strategic level,” Oshinowo said.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama, represented by Mrs. Abosede Awolola of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, noted that RCDS remains pivotal in global leadership training.
> “President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains committed to a foreign policy that is citizen-focused, economically driven, and globally respected,” Maitama stated.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by Special Adviser on Security, Olusola Subair, underscored the erosion of family values as a significant obstacle to national development and called for collective action to redirect the energies of Nigerian youth toward productive outcomes.
Founded in 1927, RCDS in the UK has long been regarded as one of the world’s premier institutions for strategic military and leadership training.
NAN
