Africa-Press – Nigeria. Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday lamented that unlike other fields or aspects of life, politics remains the only area where there is no formal training for leadership.
Obasanjo argued that the characteristics of effective leadership include exposure, experience, training, and character.
He stated this while speaking at the second edition of the annual Ajibosin Platform symposium themed “Importance of Leadership in Governance” held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The former president revealed that he was informed that apprenticeships exist even among armed robbers, expressing concern about the lack of political leadership training, saying, “That’s not good enough.”
Obasanjo said, “It’s only in politics that I found out there is no training for leadership. Even among armed robbers, I was told there is apprenticeship. But it’s only in politics that there is no training on leadership. That’s not good enough.
“If you want to be a teacher, you go for teacher training; but in politics, people just jump in. That’s part of our problem.”
Delivering his keynote address, former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, blamed Nigeria’s challenges on what he described as a culture of excuses and politics of alibi.
Chidoka called on Nigerians to change the culture that promotes nepotism and mediocrity rather than making excuses for the country’s failures.
“Leadership finds its true measure not in speeches or charisma but in the systems it leaves behind. Moral conviction must translate into the everyday machinery of governance, rules, routines, and institutions that make competence predictable and corruption difficult.
“Nigeria’s problem has never been a shortage of ideas; it is the absence of systems strong enough to outlive their authors,” he said.
Meanwhile, the convener of the symposium, Aare Olanrewaju Bakinson, said the lecture aimed to discuss the critical role effective leadership plays in shaping societies and nations.
“Leadership is not just about power; it’s about responsibility, vision, and service. As we explore this theme, we’ll examine the qualities of good governance, the impact of leadership on development, and strategies for fostering ethical leadership,” he said.
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