A former minister of education, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, has urged Africans to unite and change the current leadership system for the continent to become great in the 21st century.
Ezekwesili asserted that leadership remained the fundamental challenge of the continent in its quest for advancement.
She spoke yesterday in Abuja at the third graduation ceremony of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) which she founded.
According to the former minister, there is urgent 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 among us. And if you reject a situation then you must act to correct that situation,” she said.
She said the SPPG was borne out of the need to groom leaders with integrity to take over the political and business sectors so as to cause positive change.
Ezekwesili urged the graduands to always be of good character and uphold the values of character, competence and capacity championed by the school.
She warned that the certificate issued to them would be retrieved if they are found wanting in character or competence in any public office.
In his keynote address, a Member of the Zimbabwean parliament, Mr Gift Siziba, called for free education to all African children as it remains the best tool for attitudinal change.
Siziba urged Africans not to lose hope in the continent there is a better future ahead when many wrongs are corrected and normalcy restored.
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