By Annette Ikponmwonba | September 10, 2026
Keypoints
• UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has called on Africa to learn from the experiences of past leaders.
• Mohammed said the lessons of past leadership are essential to preparing the next generation of ethical and visionary leaders.
• She made the remarks during a visit to the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
• Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said OOLI was established to ensure leadership development in Africa is based on experience, scholarship and practice.
• Discussions during Mohammed’s visit covered peacebuilding, sustainable development, youth leadership and governance institutions.
• The institute described the visit as an endorsement of its efforts to promote leadership development across Africa.
Main Story
The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, has stressed the need for Africa to draw lessons from the experiences of past leaders to prepare the next generation of ethical and visionary leaders, Mohammed made the call on Wednesday during a visit to the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute in Abeokuta, Ogun State, The development was 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 the institute as a platform where leadership experiences could be preserved, discussed and passed on to future generations, She said, “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 statement said Mohammed, a 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.
According to the statement, the meeting focused on peacebuilding, sustainable development, youth leadership and strengthening governance institutions across Africa, Obasanjo said the institute was established to ensure that leadership development in Africa was grounded in experience, scholarship and practical knowledge.
“Our goal at OOLI is to ensure that leadership in Africa is not left to chance,” he said.
“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, who is 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,” he said, “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 positioned OOLI as a strategic platform for global conversations on governance, development and leadership transformation.
The Issues
Africa continues to face challenges around governance, institutional development, youth inclusion and leadership succession, Mohammed’s message focused on the importance of preserving the experiences of previous leaders and using those lessons to equip future generations with the knowledge and values required for responsible leadership.
What’s Being Said
Mohammed said African countries must learn from the experiences of past leaders rather than allow each new generation to start from scratch, Obasanjo, meanwhile, said OOLI seeks to bring experience, scholarship and practice together to strengthen leadership development across the continent.
What’s Next
OOLI is expected to continue developing programmes focused on leadership, governance, youth development and institutional transformation, while using its platform to promote wider conversations on Africa’s development.
Bottom Line
Amina Mohammed has urged Africa to preserve and learn from the experiences of past leaders as it prepares a new generation of ethical and visionary leaders. Her visit to OOLI also highlighted the institute’s growing role in promoting conversations around leadership, governance and sustainable development across Africa.
