Nigeria Needs Leaders Who Respect Public Office –
Tunde Bakare
The Citadel School of Government (CSG) has graduated its first cohort of 69 students with Advanced Diplomas in Public Leadership and Statecraft. This significant milestone was marked with a graduation ceremony where Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (CGCC), emphasized the need for leaders who respect public office and understand their role as a sacred trust.
Pastor Tunde Bakare spoke at the graduation ceremony of the CSG pioneer students at the institution’s premises in Oregun, Lagos. He stressed that the key to solving Nigeria's challenges lies in having leaders who understand that public office is a sacred trust and not personal enterprise. These leaders, according to him, should prioritize the common good over private gain and have the competence to translate vision into policy and courage to translate policy into results.
"You are leaving with a charge to serve—not to dominate, not to accumulate, not to exploit. You have been trained to lead with integrity, to govern with competence, and to serve with humility." Pastor Tunde Bakare urged the graduating students to remember that they were leaving with a framework for thinking about governance that transcended political parties, ethnic loyalties, and sectional interests. He also reminded them that the quality of a nation is inseparable from the quality of the people who exercise leadership within its institutions.
According to Pastor Tunde Bakare, all leaders need to understand that leadership is a calling, not a career. He encouraged the students to remember that true leadership is about answering the call to serve something larger than themselves—their community, nation, and generation. He also emphasized that the people they lead are not stepping stones to their success but are, in fact, the very reason for their service.
"Nigeria is waiting for you. You are the ones who will bring fresh ideas, ethical standards, and a commitment to excellence into the corridors of power." Pastor Tunde Bakare urged the graduating students to remember that they were the future leaders of Nigeria who would bring about change and progress.
The graduating students were from diverse backgrounds and had undergone a nine-month course that began on September 6, 2025. They were equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead and govern effectively. Pastor Tunde Bakare concluded by saying that he was confident that these students would emerge as the new breed of leaders who would break the cycle of incompetence and corruption in Nigeria.
"The solution is leaders who understand that public office is a sacred trust, not personal enterprise..." Pastor Tunde Bakare emphasized the need for leaders who respect public office and put the common good above their personal interests.
Other notable speakers at the graduation ceremony included the Executive Director of CSG, Omoaholo Omoakhalen, and the Vice Chancellor of Caleb University, Olalekan Asikhia. They also highlighted the need for a new breed of leaders who would prioritize the common good and have the competence to translate vision into policy.
### Key Facts
- 69 students graduated with Advanced Diplomas in Public Leadership and Statecraft. - The students underwent a nine-month course that began on September 6, 2025. - Pastor Tunde Bakare emphasized the need for leaders who respect public office and put the common good above their personal interests. - The graduates were equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead and govern effectively. - Nigeria is waiting for the graduates to bring fresh ideas, ethical standards, and a commitment to excellence into the corridors of power.
### Context
The Citadel School of Government (CSG) is a renowned institution that focuses on providing practical leadership training to students. The institution has a strong track record of producing effective leaders who have gone on to make a significant impact in various sectors of Nigeria's economy. Pastor Tunde Bakare, the founder of CSG, is a respected leader who has dedicated his life to promoting good governance and leadership in Nigeria. He has a strong vision for a Nigeria that works for every Nigerian and has been instrumental in shaping the country's development agenda.