Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has unveiled his new Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI), describing it as not merely an institution but a movement designed to reclaim Africa's leadership narrative and address the continent's persistent leadership deficit.
The announcement came during the formal inauguration of the Institute's Governing Board at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, according to a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Wednesday.
Vision Born From Seven Decades of Experience
"Today marks not just the inauguration of the Governing Board of the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute, but the formal launch of the operational phase of a vision—a vision that has been shaped by my experiences and convictions spanning over seven decades," Obasanjo stated.
The former president, who will chair the Institute's Board, emphasized that despite Africa's abundant human and natural resources, the continent has consistently struggled to translate its potential into sustainable development, peace, and prosperity—primarily due to leadership deficiencies at various levels.
"Through the triumphs and the trials, one fault line has remained stubbornly persistent: the deficit in effective, ethical, transformational, inspirational and visionary leadership. This leadership gap has often been the difference between progress and stagnation, between peace and conflict, between prosperity and poverty," he explained.
Distinguished African Leadership Support
Obasanjo acknowledged the contributions of several prominent African leaders to the continent's leadership development, including Ghana's President John Mahama, Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, and former Senegalese President Macky Sall.
He advised board members to remain guided by the conviction that Africa's greatest asset is its people, stressing that with proper leadership and collaboration, the continent's potential is limitless.
A Unique Hybrid Institution
The OOLI is designed as a distinctive hybrid institution that will draw from various organizational models while maintaining its unique identity.
"The OOLI will be a hybrid, though initially headed by a former Military General, it will not be a military organisation but borrow what is good from the military. It is blessed by NUC as an affiliate of Bellstech, but not an entirely academic university. It will copy the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in some ways but not entirely like NIPSS. It will be unique in every way," the statement elaborated.
The Institute's mission is to equip leaders at all levels with the necessary skills, capabilities, understanding, technology, values, orientation, and vision to transform individual nations and the African continent collectively.
With this initiative, Obasanjo aims to address what he perceives as a critical gap in Africa's development journey, positioning the Institute as a catalyst for nurturing the next generation of transformative African leaders.
