In a significant stride towards reshaping leadership across Nigeria’s public sector, the University of Lagos Business School (ULBS) in collaboration with the Citadel School of Government, an auspice of the Citadel Global Community Church, on Saturday, September 6, 2025 formally inaugurated the Advanced Diploma Programme in Public Leadership and Statecraft.
The onboarding ceremony, held at the Citadel School of Governance Auditorium welcomed seventy (70) pioneering participants into the 9-month programme which is designed to train a new generation of ethical, competent, and visionary leaders.
The event drew academics, policymakers, government officials, and civil society stakeholders, with every one of them unified in their call for urgent leadership renewal in Nigeria and across Africa.
Welcoming participants, the Executive Director of ULBS, Professor Mike Adebamowo emphasized the critical need for ethical and pragmatic public leadership in today’s governance landscape.
According to him, “This collaboration became imperative, because we are facing complex governance challenges that demand not just technical know-how, but visionary leadership rooted in ethics and integrity.”
While underscoring the determination of ULBS to producing global-standard leaders equipped to transform both public and private sector institutions, Professor Adabamowo pointed out that “ULBS has earned international recognition as a member of prestigious bodies such as the Business Graduate Association (BGA, London), Association of African Business Schools (AABS), and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)”.
These affiliations, he averred, reflect the commitment of University of Lagos to excellence and positioning Nigerian leadership education on a global platform.
A Prophetic Vision Realized
Setting the tone for the event, the Executive Director of the Citadel School of Governance (CSG), Mr. Omoaholo Omoakhalen recounted the spiritual and visionary origins of the institution.
He narrated how the idea was birthed from a prophetic dream received by Pastor Tunde Bakare, Founder of the Citadel Global Community Church. His words “On September 11, 2024, I was tasked by Pastor Bakare with the divine responsibility of translating that dream into reality,”.
He explained that “the CSG is grounded in a mission to train public leaders in the art and science of governance and statecraft, instilling in them a robust understanding of policy design, institutional leadership, and nation-building.”
In his remarks, the visionary of the program, Pastor Tunde Bakare, noted that “the 9-month programme goes beyond earning a certificate. It is a call to embody integrity, service, and accountability, the true hallmarks of leadership and statecraft”.
He highlighted the transformative ambition of the programme to train participants to analyze policies critically, design strategies effectively, and lead with foresight and moral clarity.
His words, “Leadership must be more than power; it must be purpose-driven, people-centered, and principle-based.”
Renowned governance advocate and two-time Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, in a goodwill message, urged participants to rise beyond tokenism and embody the leadership Nigeria desperately needs.
Similarly, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye encouraged the cohort to be change-makers in all spheres of life.
Advanced Diploma Programme in Public Leadership and Statecraft
The University of Lagos Business School (ULBS) and Citadel School of Government (CSG), on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, signed a formal Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) at UNILAG’s Senate Chambers to launch the innovative programme in Public Leadership and Statecraft. (For more on the signing of the MoA, please click: https://lagosedu.com/unilag-business-school-citadel-school-of-government-launch-groundbreaking-leadership-programme/).
The Advanced Diploma Programme in Public Leadership and Statecraft, an immersive leadership training course, is designed to equip mid-career professionals, policymakers, and public servants with the tools needed to navigate the complexities of governance in the 21st century. It will feature twelve courses taught by globally renowned academics and seasoned governance practitioners, culminating in a certificate jointly awarded by ULBS and CSG.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photographs: Ayo Oloyede
