The Vice Chancellor of Caleb University, Professor Olalekan Asikhia, has urged graduands of the Citadel School of Government (CSG) to prioritise institution-building and ethical leadership over personal ambition as they enter public service.

Asikhia gave the charge while delivering the keynote address at the inaugural graduation ceremony of the school, founded by Pastor Tunde Bakare.

Speaking on the theme, “Leadership, Innovation and Institutional Excellence: Preparing Change-Makers for a Competitive and Disruptive World,” the professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship said Nigeria’s development challenges were rooted partly in weak institutions, poor policy implementation and ethical leadership deficits.

He said sustainable national development required institutions founded on integrity, accountability, transparency, innovation and strategic planning.

According to him, leaders must focus on building systems that would outlive their tenure rather than concentrating power around individuals.

Asikhia urged the graduands to embrace ethical and servant leadership, evidence-based policymaking, digital transformation, strategic foresight and policy entrepreneurship.

The vice chancellor drew lessons from the development experiences of countries including Singapore, Rwanda, Germany, South Africa and the United States, saying institutional reforms, investment in education, technology, entrepreneurship and human capital had contributed to their progress.

He also challenged universities and leadership institutions to move beyond awarding certificates and focus on developing graduates with practical problem-solving abilities and the values required for public service.

Bakare, founder and chairman of the Citadel School of Government, said the institution was established to prepare leaders capable of contributing to national development through responsible public service.

“We are raising leaders who will not merely occupy office but rebuild the foundations of governance and restore the dignity of public service,” he said.

Bakare added that the future of any nation depended on the deliberate preparation of people who understood responsibility, sacrifice and service.

The school’s pioneer graduands completed the Advanced Diploma in Public Leadership and Statecraft (ADPLS), a programme focused on leadership and governance.

The ceremony attracted participants from government, academia, the private sector, civil society and development organisations. Among those present were the Executive Director of the school, Omoaholo Omoakhalen, faculty members, representatives of the University of Lagos Business School, parents, guardians and the pioneer graduands.