By Sandra Umeh
The Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI) in Ogun, in partnership with the University of Lagos, has concluded a four-day intensive student leadership training.
The training, held from Feb.19 and Feb. 22, had as its theme, “Leadership for the Future”, and was organised for newly elected student leaders of the university.
This was stated in a statement by Prof. Elvis Otobo, Media Consultant of the institute, issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.
Describing the programme as deeply engaging and intellectually enriching, he noted that it was designed to shape a new generation of responsible, visionary, and values-driven leaders.
According to him, the training opened with a keynote address by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the founder of OOLI.
“Chief Obasanjo delivered a profound lecture on the role, objectives, and values of leadership, imparting lessons that captivated and engaged the entire audience.
“He presented his renowned 55 objectives of a true leader, highlighting attributes such as achiever, actualiser, analyser, arranger, and communicator.
“The former president also listed decision-maker, encourager, enquirer, friend, and giver as essential leadership values,” he said.
Otobo said that Obasanjo also emphasised 15 core values of good leadership, which include integrity, honesty, dependability, patriotism, and orderliness.
He added that the former president also highlighted tolerance, trustworthiness, and peace, among others.
The media consultant further stated that the training featured an impressive lineup of facilitators drawn from academia, civil society, mental health, finance, law, business leadership, and transformational leadership development.
He noted that their respective sessions complemented the ex-president’s keynote address and provided practical, real-world tools for effective leadership.
Speaking further, Otobo said the training also combined plenary sessions, interactive engagements, emotional intelligence laboratories, constitutional literacy workshops, financial management training and leadership reflections.
“These facilitators enriched the training with insights spanning governance, activism, emotional intelligence, financial stewardship, constitutional literacy, communication and global leadership trends.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Founder of the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI).
“The training also witnessed the presence and support of senior officials of the university of Lagos, among whom are Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, as well as the the Dean of Student Affairs Division, Prof. Musa Obalola.
In her closing remarks, Prof. Ogunsola expressed deep appreciation to the former president, for his “legendary and monumental” contribution to leadership development in Nigeria and the continent at large.
She then commended the OOLI Board of Directors for championing the course for leadership development in the country,
Otobo said one of the facilitators, Lady Anne Welsh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of Painless Universal, United Kingdom, delivered an inspiring session on resilience in goal pursuit and leadership.
According to the media consultant, Welsh, emphasised determination, self belief and the power of personal adversity, as a catalyst for transformational leadership.
He noted that the highlight of the programme was the visit by participants to the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Museum, the Zoo and the Olumo Rock, to enrich their cultural and historical understanding of leadership. (NAN)
Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa
