Lagos, Nigeria — The University of Lagos Business School (ULBS) and the Citadel School of Government (CSG) have today entered into a transformative partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to jointly advance public leadership education and capacity building in Nigeria, across Africa and beyond.

The MOA was signed at the Senate Chamber of the University of Lagos by Professor Folasade Ogunsola, _{OON, FAS} (Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos), Mrs. Victoria Abosede Wickliffe (Registrar, University of Lagos), Pastor Tunde Bakare (Founder and Chairman of the Board, Citadel School of Government), and Mr. Tope Adebayo, Esq. (Company Secretary, Citadel School of Government).

This milestone agreement establishes a Joint Learning Programme anchored on the Advanced Diploma in Public Leadership and Statecraft, a nine-month academic initiative designed to equip individuals with the insight, competencies, and strategic tools required to lead institutions and transform governance.

The curriculum, co-designed by both institutions, comprises twelve robust courses spanning Principles of Public Leadership, Governance and Statecraft, Public Policy Design and Analysis, Ethics and Accountability in Governance, Strategic Management in the Public Sector, Political Economy and Development, Security, Diplomacy and National Interest, Digital Governance and E-Government, and Constitutionalism and Rule of Law. In addition, in response to pressing leadership needs in the Nigerian and African contexts, students will have the opportunity to build capacity in specific pathways including Political Leadership and Election Management, Civic and Social Enterprise, Leadership in Crisis and Emergency Management, and Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding. Furthermore, each student will undertake a Capstone Leadership Practicum that combines hands-on impact within a specific public leadership context with the development of a written thesis.

ULBS will supply faculty with world-class academic and practical credentials, while CSG will contribute a diverse pool of practitioner-facilitators from across public administration, political strategy and leadership, policy reform, and civic leadership. This fusion of scholarship and experience will offer participants a deeply relevant and transformative learning journey.

Participants will benefit not only from structured lectures and case-based learning but also from direct engagements with serving and former public leaders through fireside chats, masterclasses, and curated seminar series. Beyond the classroom, the programme includes access to career advisory and leadership support services designed to accelerate each participant’s journey in governance and nation-building.

The vision behind this partnership is to raise a new breed of well-trained, ethically grounded, and strategically equipped leaders who can bridge Nigeria’s public leadership gap, reform institutions, and inject transformational leadership across key spheres, including public administration and management, political governance, policy entrepreneurship, and civic leadership.

While the Advanced Diploma programme is open for application, additional short certificate programmes will soon follow, including the Certificate Programme in Local Governance and Administration, which will cater to serving local government officials, such as local government Chairpersons, Councillors and Administrators. Also to follow soon are offerings focused on leading public service innovation, corporate governance, and transitions from the private to the public sector.

Prospective students of the Advanced Diploma in Public Leadership and Statecraft can visit the application portal on the website of the Citadel School of Government to commence the process immediately from Wednesday, June 11, 2025, to the application deadline which is on Friday, August 8, 2025. Meanwhile, individuals interested in the short certificate courses can also register their interest on the CSG website ahead of the next edition. 

The collaboration between the two institutions signals a new era in governance education, aimed at building the capacity of leaders for the public good.

Prospective students can apply to the Advanced Diploma in Public Leadership and Statecraft by visiting: https://bit.ly/CSGADPLS2025Application

For more information, visit: www.citadelschoolofgovernment.org

Media enquiries:

CSG: info@citadelschoolofgovernment.org

ULBS: ulbs@unilag.edu.ng