Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for inclusive leadership that embraces the youth, stressing that they must not be sidelined in shaping the future.
Speaking in Abeokuta at the grand reunion and maiden lecture of the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), UK Alumni Association, Nigerian chapter, Obasanjo emphasized the need for truthful, transparent, transformational, and selfless leadership from today’s decision-makers.
Represented by Prof. Samuel Daramola, Deputy Director of the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute, the former president delivered a lecture titled “The Challenges of Youth in a Fractured World.”
Obasanjo described youth as a time of vitality, idealism, and dreams, yet acknowledged the complex and fractured state of the world they now inherit.
“Some of us were youths after WWII; others during the Cold War. The world then had its flaws, but there was order and respect for global rules. Today’s youth face enormous challenges, and they must not be left to handle them alone,” he said.
He urged leaders to invest in the future rather than deplete resources meant for generations to come, and to fully integrate youth into all spheres of life—family, business, and governance.
“Youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are leaders today. Let them be actively involved now in preparation for the future,” he added.
As Grand Patron of the alumni association, Obasanjo encouraged young people to develop resilience and self-reliance, qualities needed to thrive in a fractured global landscape.
President of the association, Maj.-Gen. Oluwaseun Oshinowo (Rtd.), noted that the group, formed eight years ago, serves as a platform for engaging in strategic national and global discourse.
“We want to show the world we are available for high-level discussions that can move Nigeria forward,” he said.
In a goodwill message, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama, represented by Mrs. Abosede Awolola from the Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, highlighted RCDS as a key institution in global leadership development.
“President Tinubu’s administration is focused on a citizen-centered, economically-driven, and globally respected foreign policy,” he said.
Also speaking, Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by Olusola Subair, his Special Adviser on Security, expressed concern over the breakdown of family values, which he said hampers youth development.
He called on stakeholders to help reshape the mindset of young people towards positive, productive engagement.
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