Obasanjo Mentors 1,000 Student Prefects on Leadership and Ethics

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized that a nation’s sustainable development must be built on a foundation of strong ethical values and a profound sense of social responsibility.

Obasanjo delivered these remarks in Abeokuta during the inaugural Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Training Programme for Secondary School Prefects. The event, organized by the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI), brought together nearly 1,000 head boys, head girls, and senior prefects from secondary schools across Ogun State.

The former president identified social responsibility as a fundamental pillar of nation-building, stressing that it is a duty for both individuals and institutions.

He described the prefect system as a vital training ground for future leaders, noting that while prefects are not teachers, they are given authority to uphold discipline and support the school’s administration.

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“Economic, social, and political development go hand in hand with nation-building,” Obasanjo stated. “Societal responsibility is an ethical and character obligation for individuals and organisations to act in ways that benefit the society. Social responsibility is an imperative requirement of nation-building, so long as the government also plays its part.”

He further explained the role of a prefect, saying, “A prefect is a senior pupil invested with authority by the school management to help maintain discipline and assist in low-level administration. School prefects carry a little of a teacher’s authority and therefore must demonstrate exemplary conduct.”

Focusing on leadership principles, Obasanjo encouraged the students to establish clear missions, visions, and goals. He cited Edwin Locke’s Goal-Setting Theory as a valuable framework for achieving personal growth and disciplined planning.

In his address, Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, praised Obasanjo’s initiative, highlighting its alignment with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s educational reform agenda.

Arigbabu urged the prefects to remember that true leadership is defined by service, character, and influence. “Leadership is the courage to stand for what is right, the strength to make wise choices, and the humility to inspire others,” he told them, encouraging them to serve as role models in their schools.

Professor Peter Okebukola, a member of the OOLI Governing Board, explained that the institute was founded by Obasanjo to cultivate emerging leaders, from the family level to the global stage. He noted that the program aims to eventually reach head boys and head girls from all of Nigeria’s over 25,000 secondary schools.

“The plan is to progressively cover the whole of Nigeria,” Okebukola said. “These are leaders of today and tomorrow future Vice-Chancellors, governors, senators, and even global leaders. They already have God-given talent, but training is needed to strengthen their leadership capacity.”