Unite To Change Leadership System For Africa’s Greatness – Oby Ezekwesili

• Former Minister Ezekwesili emphasizes the need for African unity to address leadership challenges and ensure the continent’s greatness
• She highlights the importance of quality leadership, encourages action to correct leadership issues, and stresses the values of character and competence

Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former minister of education, has urged Africans to unite and change the current leadership system if the continent is to become great in the twenty-first century.

Ezekwesili asserted that leadership remained the continent’s primary challenge in its quest for progress.

She spoke at the third graduation ceremony of the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG), which she founded in Abuja yesterday.

According to the former minister, all Africans must take deliberate action to change the narrative about the continent.

“If we successfully correct our continent’s leadership anomaly, one thing is certain: Africa will claim the twenty-first century.”

“What ultimately concludes that Africa’s problem is poor public leadership; we have said it so many times as a continent.”

“The SPPG is our solution and response to that problem.” We are saying that it is not our fate to be ruled by the worst of us. And if you reject a situation, you must take action to correct it,” she explained.

She stated that the SPPG arose from the need to groom leaders of integrity to take over the political and business sectors and effect positive change.

Ezekwesili urged the graduates to always be of good character and to uphold the school’s values of character, competence, and capacity.

She warned them that their certificate would be revoked if they were found lacking in character or competence in any public office.

In his keynote address, Mr Gift Siziba, a Member of the Zimbabwean Parliament, called for free education for all African children, citing education as the most effective tool for behavioural change.

Siziba urged Africans not to give up hope in the continent, saying that a better future awaits when many wrongs are righted and normalcy is restored.