Embrace Ethics as Foundation for Leadership, Obasanjo Urges Young Prefects
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged young Nigerians to ground their leadership ambitions in strong ethical values, insisting that lasting national development depends on a culture of social responsibility.
Obasanjo delivered the charge on Friday in Abeokuta at the maiden Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Training Programme for secondary school prefects, organised by the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI).
More than 1,000 head boys, head girls and senior prefects from schools across Ogun State attended the session.
He described social responsibility as a non-negotiable pillar of nation-building, adding that both citizens and institutions must act in ways that advance collective well-being.
Obasanjo also highlighted the prefect system as a formative leadership platform that entrusts pupils with delegated authority to maintain discipline and support daily school administration.
“A prefect is a senior pupil invested with authority by the school management to help maintain discipline and assist in low-level administration,” he said, stressing that those in such roles must demonstrate exemplary conduct.
He added that economic, social and political progress depends on leaders who understand the ethical obligations of service.
The former President encouraged the students to set clear missions and goals, noting Edwin Locke’s Goal-Setting Theory as a useful guide for personal discipline and long-term planning.
Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu, praised the training initiative and said it aligns with the state’s ongoing education reforms under Governor Dapo Abiodun.
He reminded the prefects that leadership is defined by service, character and the ability to influence others positively.
“Leadership is the courage to stand for what is right, the strength to make wise choices, and the humility to inspire others,” Arigbabu said.
Also speaking, OOLI Governing Board member Prof Peter Okebukola explained that the institute was created to nurture emerging leaders from the family level to global stages. He noted that Nigeria has more than 25,000 secondary schools, adding that the programme aims to reach head prefects nationwide.
“These are leaders of today and tomorrow—future vice-chancellors, governors, senators and even global leaders,” Okebukola said, adding that structured capacity building is essential to unlocking their potential.
Obasanjo’s renewed call for ethical leadership comes at a time of persistent concerns about governance failures, corruption and weak accountability structures in Nigeria.
The OOLI programme seeks to address these gaps by introducing leadership principles early and preparing young Nigerians for future roles in public and private life.
