Former Minister of Education, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, has said the political culture in Africa where leaders place personal interests above public good is distored.
Ezekwesili spoke at the weekend in Abuja during 2022 Pioneer Class Graduation of School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG).
With the theme: ‘Designing our global future with Africa in mind’’, the former minister founder of SPPG, said leaders must change their mindset to face growing challenges.
The minister noted that character, competence and capacity were the missing gap in producing good leadership in Africa.
Such distorted political culture, she said, could be corrected with sufficient information.
Speaking about Nigeria, she reiterated the need for the leadership to educate and sensitise citizens on consequences of making bad electoral decisions.
Ezekwesili said: “What we found is that not just Nigeria, but across Africa, there is a political culture that is distorted.
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“It is the political culture where those in public leadership subordinate the public good.
“That is the common good for their personal and narrow interests. And so what it means is that the common good and public good is not served by people who should be serving.
Speaking on SPPG training, the former minister said it had the content to reset the mindset of those who wish to lead in public service.
“I think one of the things that our research shows is the important role of citizens, which is why a critical pillar in the research of fixed politics is the pillar on empowering and enlightening the electorate so they would have influence sufficient enough to influence political outcomes.
Chief Executive Officer of SPPG, Alero Ayida-Otobo, said the institution was aimed at transforming the quality of political and public leadership in Nigeria and Africa.
“Research shows that there were certain gaps in the knowledge base of most public leaders. So, this is our contribution in building the knowledge base of future leader’s and we are pleased we have 133 graduates”, Ayida-Otobo said.