Tunde Bakare, founder of the Citadel School of Government (CSG), expressed his primary goal of seeing a functional Nigeria during the institution’s inaugural graduation ceremony in Oregun, Lagos. The 69 students completed a nine-month Advanced Diploma program in Public Leadership and Statecraft. Bakare, who also leads the Citadel Global Community Church, emphasized that addressing issues like insecurity and economic instability requires leaders who treat public service as a sacred duty rather than a private business.
Addressing the graduates, Bakare noted that they represent a new generation tasked with ending patterns of corruption and incompetence. He urged them to prioritize the common good, lead with integrity, and view their roles as a calling rather than a career. According to him, the nation’s success is directly tied to the caliber of its leaders.
CSG Executive Director Omoaholo Omoakhalen encouraged the graduates to utilize their training to help build a better country. Other speakers echoed this sentiment, including Professor Sunday Adebisi of the Lagos Business School, who highlighted the urgent need to align leadership capacity with governance requirements. Professor Olalekan Asikhia, Vice Chancellor of Caleb University, underscored the importance of building sustainable institutions and moving beyond viewing leadership as merely a title.
