Tunde Bakare Drops Truth: Nigeria Needs Leaders, Not Lords
By Tunde Okoro
Pastor Tunde Bakare is not here for the usual political noise. The founder of the Citadel School of Government (CSG) made it crystal clear on Saturday: his biggest dream is to see a Nigeria that actually works for every single Nigerian. And he is not waiting for a miracle. He is building the leaders who will make it happen.
Speaking at the graduation of CSG's pioneer students in Oregun, Lagos, Bakare dropped some serious fire. These 69 graduates just completed a nine-month Advanced Diploma in Public Leadership and Statecraft. They started in September 2025, and now they are stepping out ready to shake things up.
Bakare, who also leads the Citadel Global Community Church, said he is confident that a better Nigeria will emerge in his lifetime. That is the kind of energy we need.
What Bakare Told the New Leaders
Bakare did not hold back. He said Nigeria is heading into another major electoral cycle, and the challenges are real: insecurity, economic instability, crumbling infrastructure, weak institutions, and a serious trust deficit between the people and their leaders.
But his message was clear: the solution is not more of the same. It is leaders who get that public office is a sacred trust, not a personal ATM.
“Leaders who prioritise common good over private gain; and have the competence to translate vision into policy, and courage to translate policy into results.”
To the graduating students, Bakare said they are the new breed. They are the ones who will break the cycle of incompetence and corruption. They are leaving with more than a certificate. They are leaving with a framework for governance that goes beyond political parties, ethnic loyalties, and sectional interests.
Leadership Is a Calling, Not a Career
Bakare dropped another truth bomb: leadership is a calling, not a career. It is about answering the call to serve something bigger than yourself. Your community, your nation, your generation.
He urged them to never forget that the people they lead are not stepping stones to success. They are the reason for the service.
That is the kind of mindset we need in every corner of this country.
Other Voices Back the Vision
The message was echoed by other heavyweights. CSG Executive Director Omoaholo Omoakhalen charged the graduates to justify the confidence placed in them. Prof. Sunday Adebisi of Lagos Business School said Nigeria's future depends on the quality of its leaders. He called for leaders who can mobilise resources and make things work.
Prof. Olalekan Asikhia, Vice Chancellor of Caleb University, took it further. He said we need to redefine leadership as a responsibility, not a title. He called for builders who focus on systems that will outlive them.
Goodwill messages also came from Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin and others. The message is clear: Nigeria is ready for a new kind of leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Citadel School of Government?
CSG is a leadership training institution founded by Pastor Tunde Bakare. It offers programs in public leadership and statecraft to develop a new generation of ethical and competent leaders for Nigeria.
How many students graduated?
Sixty-nine pioneer students graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Public Leadership and Statecraft after a nine-month course that started in September 2025.
What is Bakare's vision for Nigeria?
Bakare wants to see a Nigeria that works for every Nigerian. He believes this is possible through leaders who treat public office as a sacred trust and prioritize the common good over personal gain.
This is not just talk. This is a movement. And it is exactly what Africa needs.