The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, has called on Africa to draw lessons from the experiences of past leaders to prepare a new generation of ethical and visionary leaders.
Mohammed made the call on Wednesday during a visit to the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Her remarks were contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Prof. Elvis Otobo, media consultant to the Deputy Chief Executive of OOLI, Prof. Samuel Daramola.
Mohammed described OOLI as an important platform for preserving leadership experiences and ensuring that lessons from previous generations are passed on to future leaders.
“OOLI is a place for leadership to be discussed, a leadership to be remembered. Leadership for us to stand on the shoulders of those who have been there is important.
“Africa as a continent must draw lessons from the experiences of past leaders to prepare the next generation of ethical and visionary leaders.
“For us, this is a demonstration of a legacy of a life that is not yet done, is still leading, and this is really important.”
The former Minister of Environment subsequently held a closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of OOLI.
The meeting focused on peacebuilding, sustainable development, youth leadership and efforts to strengthen governance institutions across Africa, according to the statement.
Obasanjo said the institute was established to ensure that leadership development across Africa draws on experience, scholarship and practical knowledge.
“Our goal at OOLI is to ensure that leadership in Africa is not left to chance.
“We are building a space where experience, scholarship, and practice meet—so that future leaders do not start from zero, but from a foundation of tested wisdom and global engagement.”
During the visit, Mohammed also held a strategic conversation with Daramola, a member of the institute’s Board of Trustees.
Speaking on behalf of the Director of the Institute, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, Daramola described the UN deputy chief’s visit as an endorsement of OOLI’s work in leadership development.
“Having the UN Deputy Secretary-General at OOLI is both an honour and a validation of our work.
“Her reflections on legacy, continuity, and standing on the shoulders of proven leaders speak directly to why OOLI exists.
“We are committed to translating these values into concrete programmes that impact communities, institutions, and future leaders across Africa and beyond.”
The institute said Mohammed’s visit further strengthened OOLI’s position as a platform for global conversations on governance, development and leadership transformation.
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