Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) are among the top speakers set to address the theme “Importance of Leadership in Governance” at the second edition of the Ajibosin Platform Annual Symposium scheduled for Friday, October 24, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The symposium, which forms part of the annual Odun Omo Olowu festival of the Owu people, is designed to promote integrity, accountability, and excellence in governance through intellectual engagement.
Speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta, the convener and Aare Mayegun of Owu Kingdom, Aare Kazeem Bakinson, explained that the event was conceived to address the persistent leadership deficit hindering Nigeria’s development.
“We are blessed with natural resources, we’re blessed with hardworking people, but leadership is the problem in Nigeria,” Bakinson said. “Leadership is about integrity — what you do when no one is looking. If we get our leadership right, our roads will be better, hospitals will be well managed, cultism will reduce in universities, and the family unit will be stronger.”
Governor Makinde is billed to chair the symposium, while Fashola and former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, will serve as guest speakers. The keynote address will be delivered by legal luminary Dr Muiz Banire (SAN). Former President Obasanjo is also expected to grace the event.
Bakinson, an expert in regional and urban planning, blamed the country’s development setbacks on poor leadership and lack of accountability. He noted that many political officeholders have lost touch with the grassroots.
“We are in a situation where the chairman of a local government does not live in the local government,” he lamented. “Seventy percent of our buildings do not have approval. A country that is successful is so because of its leadership. We have leaders who don’t know what they are doing.”
He described the Ajibosin Platform as a non-political intellectual movement committed to fostering good governance, ethical leadership, and community engagement.
According to Bakinson, the symposium will provide a platform for dialogue among policymakers, thought leaders, and citizens on how Nigeria can reposition its leadership values to drive sustainable development.
The event is expected to draw participants from across the country, including policymakers, traditional rulers, academics, and members of civil society, all of whom share a common goal — strengthening leadership integrity for a better Nigeria.
