Obasanjo Urges Leaders to Offer Youth Truthful and Transformational Leadership
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on leaders at all levels to provide the youth with truthful, transparent, transformational, and selfless leadership that will secure their future and strengthen society.
Obasanjo made the call in Abeokuta during the grand reunion and maiden lecture series of the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), United Kingdom Alumni Association, Nigerian Chapter.
He spoke through the Deputy Director of the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute, Prof. Samuel Daramola.
Delivering a lecture titled “The Challenges of Youth in a Fractured World,” Obasanjo described youth as a phase between childhood and adulthood characterized by vitality, idealism, hope, expectation, and adventure. He said the period is often marked by energy and creativity, which must be properly guided for societal progress.
“Today’s leaders were once youth who passed through this stage of vigour and idealism,” he said.“However, the youth of today face far greater challenges in a fractured and uncertain world.”
Reflecting on global changes over the decades, the former president compared the post–World War II and Cold War eras—when he was a young man—to the current world order. “The world was not perfect then, but there was order, respect for international law, and shared responsibility among nations,” he noted. “Today, we see impunity and instability, leaving the youth to navigate a much more difficult world. They must not be left to handle it alone.”
Obasanjo, who serves as the grand patron of the association, urged leaders to prioritize the future by investing in youth development instead of depleting resources meant for coming generations.
He further emphasized the need to include young people in decision-making processes across all levels—family, community, private sector, and governance—saying that leadership opportunities help shape capable and resilient citizens. “The youth are not just leaders of tomorrow; they are leaders of today,” Obasanjo stressed. “Let them be part and parcel of leadership now as preparation for the future.”
The former president encouraged young people to cultivate resilience, courage, and self-reliance in order to thrive amid global uncertainty.
The event brought together alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies and other stakeholders committed to fostering leadership excellence and strengthening global collaboration.
