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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has attributed Africa’s development struggles to poor leadership, stressing that the continent’s biggest challenge is not resources or talent, but the quality of its leaders.
He made these remarks on Thursday, May 5, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while addressing graduates of the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI). The convocation coincided with Obasanjo’s 89th birthday lecture, themed “The Global Africa Enlightenment: From Chains to Renaissance.” The event took place at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.
The lecture attracted several notable figures, including former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, NNPP presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, and former governors Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
Speaking to the audience, Obasanjo painted a stark picture of the consequences of poor leadership. He said that when leaders are poorly prepared, nations are fractured, resources are mismanaged, children go hungry, and young people with bright futures lose hope, often taking “dangerous risks” in search of better opportunities abroad.
Obasanjo explained that the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute was born out of his five decades in public service. “Africa’s greatest deficit,” he said, “is not money, not land, not intellect, but leadership.”
He added, “I’ve seen what one well-formed leader can do.” According to Obasanjo, a single leader with vision, discipline, integrity, and courage—someone who serves rather than exploits—can transform communities, rescue institutions, and redirect entire nations.
