Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has hailed the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI) as a bold and visionary response to Africa’s leadership deficit, declaring it “poised to become a continental model for leadership development.”
Speaking at the official inauguration of the Institute’s 13-member Governing Board in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Mahama described the initiative as timely and transformative. “Africa’s future hinges on the kind of leaders we produce. OOLI represents a powerful platform to train ethical, courageous, and visionary leaders ready to tackle today’s challenges and shape tomorrow,” he said.
The board, chaired by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and led operationally by retired General Martin Luther Agwai, featured an impressive mix of global stateedmen, scholars, and policy influencers. Notable members include former Presidents Kgalema Motlanthe (South Africa), Macky Sall (Senegal), and Ameenah Gurib-Fakim (Mauritius), as well as Afreximbank President Prof. Benedict Oramah, Prof. Funmi Olonisakin of King’s College London, and Kenyan legal icon Prof. PLO Lumumba.
President Mahama commended the calibre of the board as a testament to OOLI’s credibility and global appeal. He expressed confidence that under Obasanjo’s guidance, the Institute would emerge as a continental hub for transformational leadership.
In his address, Obasanjo reflected on decades of engagement with Africa’s developmental challenges, lamenting the persistent leadership void that has stifled progress. “Despite our vast human and natural wealth, we have struggled to achieve sustainable development because of a failure in leadership,” he said. “OOLI is my answer to that failure—a platform to groom leaders equipped with the values, insight, and boldness to chart a new path for Africa.”
Obasanjo also announced the Institute’s official take-off, with programmes now set to commence, following its endorsement by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as an affiliate of Bells University of Technology.
General Agwai outlined the Institute’s achievements since its commissioning in March 2024 and shared plans for its long-term sustainability and impact. In a goodwill message, the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Ayo Omotayo, pledged strategic collaboration with OOLI to strengthen leadership capacity across Nigeria and the continent.
The high-profile event drew participants from leadership institutions across Africa, Europe, and the United States, including representatives from Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, the UK, and the U.S. Also in attendance were members of the OOLI Special Management Advisory Group (OSMAG)—a distinguished team of Nigerian scholars and higher education leaders.
With a mission to nurture a new generation of transformational leaders, the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute is now set to play a critical role in shaping Africa’s future.