Obasanjo Calls on African Leaders to Prioritize Public Interest

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on African leaders to place public interest above personal gain, warning that the continent’s future depends on leaders willing to strengthen institutions and make difficult decisions.

Obasanjo made the remarks on Saturday during an event organized by the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute to mark his 89th birthday at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta. The celebration highlighted his decades of leadership and his continued advocacy for ethical and visionary governance across Africa.

In a statement issued by Prof. Elvis Otobo, media consultant to the institute’s Deputy Chief Executive, Prof. Adedeji Daramola, the occasion underscored the former leader’s enduring legacy of service and institution-building.

Speaking at the event, Obasanjo described his birthday as a moment of reflection and gratitude. “This day is more about the grace of God than about age. Longevity should be seen as a responsibility to continue contributing to society,” he said.

Reflecting on his extensive public service career from his role during the Nigerian Civil War to his tenure in government and international engagements Obasanjo stressed that Africa’s primary challenge remains the quality of its leadership. He argued that the continent’s difficulties stem less from a lack of resources and more from a deficit of visionary leaders and strong institutions.

Addressing participants in the institute’s leadership programmes, Obasanjo urged emerging leaders to view their training as a call to service. “A single well-formed leader can change the course of history,” he said, encouraging graduates to treat their certificates “not merely as credentials but as mandates to serve with integrity and courage.”

The Director of the institute, Martin Agwai, paid tribute to the former President, describing him as a leader whose impact transcends generations. “He is one of the greatest leaders of this generation, whose impact and contributions to human development are unparalleled,” Agwai said.

He noted that Obasanjo embodies “the rare blend of vision, courage, discipline, empathy, strategic intelligence, and moral clarity that defines transformational leadership.”

Also speaking at the event, Haiti’s Ambassador to South Africa, Jean Pillard, highlighted Obasanjo’s role in promoting African unity and regional cooperation. Pillard stated that through diplomacy and strategic engagement, Obasanjo had consistently championed continental integration and institutional development across Africa.