Citadel School graduates 69 pioneer public leadership students

No fewer than 69 students have graduated from the maiden Public Leadership and Statecraft Programme of the Citadel School of Governance, Lagos.

The founder of the institution, Pastor Tunde Bakare, urged the graduands to champion a new era of ethical and competent leadership in the country.

The nine-month programme, run in partnership with the University of Lagos Business School, produced its pioneer set of graduates drawn from diverse professional backgrounds, including the judiciary, academia, public service, business and local government administration.

Speaking at the maiden graduation ceremony held at the Citadel Multipurpose Hall in Lagos, Bakare charged the graduates to see public office as a call to service rather than an avenue for personal enrichment.

He said the country’s leadership challenges required a new generation of leaders committed to the common good.

“You are the first fruit of the Citadel School of Government. You have been built through a rigorous nine-month journey of intellectual engagement, practical exposure and personal transformation.

“You are leaving with a charge to serve, not to dominate, not to accumulate, not to exploit. You have been trained to lead with integrity, govern with competence and serve with humility. These are the very foundations upon which this institution was built. Nigeria is waiting for you,” he said.

Speaking further, Bakare said, “The solution is a new breed of leaders. Leaders who understand that public office is a sacred trust, not a personal enterprise. Leaders who prioritise the common good over private gain, possess the competence to translate vision into policy and the courage to translate policy into results. That new breed is you.”

He also appreciated the University of Lagos and other partners for supporting the programme, expressing optimism that subsequent editions would build on the success of the pioneer class.

Delivering the graduation lecture, the Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Imota, Prof. Olalekan Asikhia, urged the graduates to prepare for the realities of public service and contribute to strengthening institutions in Nigeria.

He said the country’s governance landscape continued to be undermined by corruption, weak institutional accountability and abuse of public trust.

“It is important you know the environment that is demanding your service. You have learnt about the fragility of our institutions. As you step into this new chapter, remember that your success is linked to the success of your communities and your nation,” Asikhia said.

He urged the graduates to apply the knowledge acquired during the programme to drive meaningful reforms in governance and public administration.

Also, the Executive Director of the University of Lagos Business School, Prof. Sunday Adebisi, described the collaboration between the two institutions as a strategic response to Nigeria’s leadership deficit.

He said, “It was not simply the commencement of an academic partnership. It was a deliberate response to one of the most urgent questions confronting our nation: How do we bridge the wide gap between Nigeria’s governance challenges and the leadership capacity required to address them?”

According to him, sustainable national development requires leaders with intellectual depth, strategic foresight, institutional discipline, emotional intelligence and an unwavering commitment to public service.

Earlier, the Executive Director of the Citadel School of Governance, Omoaholo Omoakhalen, said the pioneer class comprised a High Court judge, a local government chairman, professors, business executives, retired professionals, legal practitioners and emerging young leaders.

He stated that the participants underwent intensive academic training, engaged with renowned scholars and statesmen, participated in webinars and policy dialogues, and built networks across sectors during the nine-month programme.

The ceremony also featured the presentation of awards to outstanding graduating students and the unveiling of a National Health Sovereignty Framework, a policy project developed by the pioneer class.

Speaking on behalf of the graduating students, the overall best graduating student, Dr Abiodun Gbenga-Ilori, expressed appreciation to the school’s management and faculty for equipping participants with the knowledge and values required for impactful leadership.