Serving Overseer of Citadel Global Community, Pastor Tunde Bakare, on Wednesday, expressed confidence that Nigeria can succeed if the root causes of governance capacity gaps are addressed with the right tools.
Bakare stated this during the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement, MoA, between the University of Lagos Business School, ULBS, and the Citadel School of Government, CSG, held in Lagos.
He said while the MoA represented the institutional realisation of a vision birthed over seven years ago when he was burdened by the gap between Nigeria’s governance challenges and the leadership capacity available to solve them, CSG and ULBS partnership would bridge such gaps.
According to him, to make the dream accessible, CSG would offer 87.5 per cent subsidised tuition to the pioneer class, reducing the N4 million programme value to N500,000.00 payable in two installments.
He said: “Over the years, I have been privileged to lead several strategic interventions in governance: from national protests to policy advocacy; from education sector projects to local governance capacity building; from electoral participation to high-level, behind-the-scenes, political mediation and conflict resolution.
“But we have now come to a critical point, where we must address the root of governance capacity gaps with the right tools – knowledge and skill as demonstrated by King David, who shepherded Israel with the integrity of his heart and the skillfulness of his hands. (Psalm 78:70-72.)
“While ULBS provides top-rated faculty with national and global recognition, we at the CSG will supply practitioners from the world of governance — from political leadership, civil society, public administration, corporate strategy, and more — so that our students are not only taught but shown the path by those who have walked it.”
Also speaking at the event, Executive Director of ULBS, Professor Mike Adebamowo, in his remarks, said: “CSG aims to bridge the leadership gap in the public sector by preparing individuals at different stages of their leadership journeys with both the technical expertise and behavioural competencies required for impactful governance.
“On the other hand, ULBS remains committed to raising world-class leaders in both public and private sectors. Our programs are meticulously designed to build not just effective managers, but transformational leaders-people who are prepared to navigate and shape our dynamic, competitive world with strategic foresight and integrity. This MoA represents the convergence of these two bold visions.”
– See Press Report from Vangaurd, The Sun, This Day and Daily Trust