‘We’re being governed by the worst amongst us’ – Oby Ezekwesili

Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, says Africa can become the greatest continent in the 21st century if citizens unite to change its leadership system.

Ezekwesili said this at the third 2023 graduation ceremony of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) on Saturday in Abuja.

She said it was generally accepted that leadership was the basic challenge of the continent, saying the country is being governed by the worst people.

The former minister stressed the need for deliberate actions by all Africans to change the narrative on the continent.

“If we succeed in correcting the leadership anomaly that we have on our continent, one thing is certain, Africa will claim the 21st century.

“What ultimately concludes the matter is that Africa’s problem is poor public leadership; we have said it so often as a continent.

“The SPPG is our answer and our response to that problem. We are saying that it is not our destiny to be governed by the worst amongst us. And if you reject a situation then you must act to correct that situation.”

Ezekwesili, who if the founder of the SPPG, said that the school was borne out of the need to groom leaders with integrity to saturate the political and business sectors so as to cause positive change.

She urged the graduands to always be of good character and uphold the values of character, competence and capacity preached by the school.

Ezekwesili warned that the certificate issued to them would be retrieved if they were found wanting in character or competence in any public office.