Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that failure of leadership in any human institution can have devastating consequences, describing it as a calamity capable of undermining families, organisations and society.
Obasanjo made the assertion in Abeokuta while speaking as a special guest at the 2026 Leadership Empowerment Institute Conference, organised around the theme, “The Gravity of Leadership Failure and Correction Methodologies.”
The event was held at the Kayode Egbetokun Hall, Police Cooperative Event Centre, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
The former president said leadership comes with the possibility of making mistakes, but responsible leaders must possess the courage to acknowledge their errors and take steps to correct them.
He noted that leadership failure within a family, for example, could prevent the family from achieving the progress expected of it.
“When you make a mistake as a leader or even as a human being, the first thing we have to do is acknowledge that we have made a mistake and also acknowledge that you have gone wrong, and then go back to make correction,” Obasanjo said.
He urged leaders who had failed others to seek forgiveness and demonstrate remorse, stressing that failure in leadership amounted to disappointing both people and God.
“When you disappoint human beings, the first thing you should do is apologise and show remorse, then put in correction. Do what you should have done that you failed to do and do it correctly,” he added.
Obateye seeks new generation of leaders
Earlier, the President and Convener of the Leadership Empowerment Institute, Professor Olusesi Obateye, said Obasanjo’s continued commitment to mentoring younger Nigerians made his participation in leadership development particularly significant.
Obateye described the former president as a leader whose contributions to Nigeria and Africa had been driven by a desire to improve the standard of humanity.
He urged participants to recognise Obasanjo’s contributions to national development and his support for initiatives aimed at promoting responsible leadership.
According to him, Obasanjo’s legacy should not be judged only by his political accomplishments or material wealth, but also by the institutions, ideas and younger leaders he has helped to nurture.
Obateye said the institute was expanding its activities beyond Nigeria, announcing that LEIC United Kingdom 2026 would hold on August 28 and 29, while another conference was scheduled for Juba, South Sudan, from September 10 to 12.
He said the partnership between LEIC and Obasanjo’s leadership institute would create opportunities for mentorship and capacity development.
The institute, he added, was also strengthening its relationship with the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in the area of leadership training.
Adebutu advocates principled leadership
The Ogun State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Oladipupo Adebutu, called for a leadership model based on integrity, consistency and clear ideological principles.
Adebutu, who received an award presented by the institute in honour of his father, Chief Adebutu Adebukunola Kessington, said the country could not achieve meaningful development if leaders continued to prioritise personal interests over principles.
“To be a good leader, you must have ideologies you will stand by. You cannot be here today, gone tomorrow. You must believe in something, and these things that you believe in, you build upon. For good leadership to thrive, you must be transparent,” he said.
A delegate at the conference, Prince Ogunoye Ademola Benson, said leadership failure was not limited to the individual occupying a position of authority, as its consequences could weaken institutions, destroy trust and deny citizens opportunities.
He urged citizens to stop merely blaming governments and leaders for every problem and instead contribute to solving challenges within their areas of influence.
Leadership starts from the home — Umar
The Chief Executive Officer of Vision Safer and Seriki Fulani of Kano, Dr Kamala Umar, said leadership development must begin within the family.
Umar urged people in positions of responsibility to identify and address problems promptly rather than allowing them to escalate.
“Leadership starts from our individual homes. As a leader in your house, if you see something wrong, acknowledge it and make necessary corrections. Don't ignore it to become a bigger problem,” he said.
He acknowledged the existence of poor leadership in the country but stressed that good leaders also existed and could make a difference through unity and collective action.
“We have challenges, we have bad leaders that cannot look at situations and admit failure. There are good leaders too, but we have to be united to stay together,” Umar said.
The conference featured the presentation and launch of a 102-page book, The Gravity of Leadership Failure and Correction Methodologies, authored by Bishop Olusesi Obateye.
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