Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reaffirmed that sustainable nation-building can only be achieved when economic, social, and political development are anchored on strong ethical values and a deep sense of social responsibility.
Obasanjo made this call on Friday in Abeokuta during the maiden edition of the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Training Programme for Secondary School Prefects in Nigeria, organised by the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI).
The event was attended by about 1,000 head boys, head girls, and senior prefects from secondary schools across Ogun State.
According to the former President, social responsibility is a fundamental pillar of nation-building and must be embraced by both individuals and institutions.
He described the prefect system as a crucial leadership incubator, noting that prefects, though not teachers, are entrusted with a measure of authority to maintain discipline and support school administration.
Obasanjo said, “Economic, social and political development go hand in hand with nation-building. 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.
“A prefect is a senior pupil invested with authority by the school management to help maintain discipline and assist in low-level administration. Power is devolved to such students, whether as food prefect, sanitation prefect, or morning devotion prefect, to carry out delegated responsibilities.
“School prefects carry a little of a teacher’s authority and therefore must demonstrate exemplary conduct,” he added.
The former President, who emphasised leadership principles, urged the students to develop clear missions, visions, and goals, referencing Edwin Locke’s Goal-Setting Theory as a useful framework for personal growth and disciplined planning.
Earlier in his address, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, applauded Obasanjo’s initiative, describing it as a perfect fit for the state’s education reform agenda under Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Addressing the prefects, Arigbabu reminded them that true leadership is rooted in service, character, and influence, urging them to return to their schools as role models of discipline and excellence.
“Leadership is the courage to stand for what is right, the strength to make wise choices, and the humility to inspire others,” he said.
Professor Peter Okebukola, a member of the OOLI Governing Board, explained that the institute was established by Obasanjo to groom emerging leaders from the family unit to global platforms.
He disclosed that Nigeria has more than 25,000 secondary schools, with the programme ultimately designed for head boys and head girls across the entire country.
He said the training seeks to unlock and strengthen the leadership potential in young Nigerians through structured capacity building.
Okebukola said, “The plan is to progressively cover the whole of Nigeria. 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.”
The call by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on ethics and social responsibility comes amid growing concerns about leadership deficits and moral decay in Nigeria. Over the years, challenges such as corruption, poor governance, and weak institutional accountability have underscored the need for early leadership development and civic education.
The Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI), which organised the maiden leadership training programme for secondary school prefects in Abeokuta, aims to address this gap by nurturing future leaders from a young age.
