Former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has called for a review of Nigeria’s constitutional requirements for elective public offices, proposing a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher National Diploma (BSc/HND) for anyone aspiring to become President, Governor, for other elected positions at the National levels.

Amosun made the call in Ibadan, Oyo State, while delivering a lecture at the 2nd Lam Adesina Annual Lecture Series, themed “Sustaining a Legacy of Effective Leadership in Nigeria.”

The event was held in honour of the late former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina. The former governor argued that leadership in the modern world demands intellectual depth, analytical ability, and a sound understanding of governance dynamics, stressing that public office should not be “a refuge for the unprepared” but a platform for the competent.

He lamented that despite Nigeria’s abundant human and natural resources, the country continues to struggle with poor governance, insecurity, unemployment, and poverty, which he attributed to leadership failure.

“Since independence, our country has fluctuated between hope and setbacks, largely due to the absence of sustained, effective leadership,” Amosun said.

Amosun also called for the reintroduction of civic education and history into Nigeria’s school curriculum, alongside stronger institutions to support good governance, stressing that democracy thrives only when citizens are informed, active, and accountable.

“Democracy thrives not only on good leaders but on informed and active citizens. Where citizens are passive, uninformed, or indifferent, leadership easily degenerates into despondency, abuse of power, authoritarianism and lack of accountability.”

He further advocated that any leader convicted of corruption or abuse of office including complicit family members or associates, should be barred for life from holding public office, describing corruption as the greatest betrayal of leadership.

Amosun urged Nigerians to emulate Lam Adesina’s legacy of integrity and service, saying: “The journey to effective leadership begins with one step — the decision to do right, however small the opportunity.”

“Let us sustain the legacy of Lam Adesina not only by remembering his name but by continuing his work, the work of building an educated, just, and responsible society. Let every citizen become a leader in conscience and in action.”

The event also featured goodwill messages from dignitaries, including the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibola Bashiru; the representative of President Bola Tinubu, Mr. Sunday Dare; and former Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, among others, who all extolled the leadership qualities and enduring legacy of the late Lam Adesina.