Ezekwesili, Bakare: Nigeria Needs New Breed Of Leaders

Former Minister of Education, Dr Oby Ezekwesili and the Founder of the Citadel School of Government, Pastor Tunde Bakare, have noted the need to groom a new generation of leaders who are grounded in values, equipped with the competencies to champion good governance, and are completely called to nation-building... Read ..Full.. Article.. .

The duo made the call on Saturday at the official opening of the CSG and the onboarding of the pioneer class of its Advanced Diploma in Public Leadership and Statecraft program, organised in partnership with the University of Lagos Business School.

The event was held at the Citadel Multipurpose Hall, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos.

Recall that the UNILAG Business School and the CSG signed a Memorandum of Agreement in June to launch a nine-month Advanced Diploma program in Public Leadership and Statecraft.

The MOA was signed by the UNILAG Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, and Mrs. Victoria Wickliffe; and the Founder/Board Chairman of CSG, Pastor Tunde Bakare, and the Company Secretary, Mr Tope Adebayo.

Ezekwesili, who delivered the keynote lecture at Saturday’s opening ceremony, lamented what she described as the “democratisation of corruption” in Nigeria, noting that the country could not continue to pretend in the face of institutional decay.

She decried the ‘institutionalisation of corruption,’ noting the need to nurture an army of nation builders committed to nation-building and reversing the country’s failures.

She said, “We have no business to fail; failure is not our destiny. However, all existing institutions in our country are struggling. Corruption is corrosive. For years, people carried on as though they did not see what was happening until it festered and became systemic, democratised. Now everybody says, ‘If you can’t beat them, join them.’ Join who?

“We must stop normalising corruption. No matter how competent you are, if you lack character, you will go nowhere. Building Nigeria requires people who are restless about nation-building, people willing to take a stand , and..  Read . .More —