The Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute has marked its maiden Founder’s Day in honour of its founder, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who celebrated his 89th birthday on Thursday. The celebration, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta on Saturday, highlighted Obasanjo’s decades of leadership and his continued advocacy for ethical and visionary leadership across Africa. According to a statement issued on Saturday by a media consultant to the Deputy Chief Executive of the institute, Professor Adedeji Daramola, Prof. Elvis Otobo, the occasion underscored the former Nigerian leader’s enduring legacy of service, leadership, and institution-building. Speaking at the event, Obasanjo described his 89th birthday as a moment of reflection and gratitude. “This day is more about the grace of God than about age. Llongevity should be seen as a responsibility to continue contributing to society,” he said. Reflecting on his decades in public service—from his role during the Nigerian Civil War to his leadership in government and international engagements—Obasanjo stressed that Africa’s major challenge remains the quality of leadership. He argued that the continent’s difficulties stem less from a lack of resources and more from a deficit of visionary leadership and strong institutions. Addressing participants at leadership programmes of the institute, Obasanjo urged emerging leaders to see their training as a call to service. “A single well-formed leader can change the course of history,” he said, urging participants to treat their certificates “not merely as credentials but as mandates to serve with integrity and courage.” He stressed that Africa’s future depends on leaders willing to strengthen institutions, make difficult decisions, and place public interest above personal gain. Director of the institute, Martin Agwai, paid tribute to the former president, describing him as a leader whose impact transcends generations. “He is one of the greatest leaders of this generation, whose impact and contributions to human development are unparalleled,” Agwai said. He noted that Obasanjo embodies “the rare blend of vision, courage, discipline, empathy, strategic intelligence, and moral clarity that defines transformational leadership.” Also speaking, Haiti’s Ambassador to South Africa, Jean Pillard, highlighted Obasanjo’s role in promoting African unity and regional cooperation. Pillard said the former Nigerian leader had consistently championed continental integration and institutional development across Africa through diplomacy and strategic engagement. The statement said the Founder’s Day celebration also reflected on key milestones in Obasanjo’s leadership journey, including 47 years since he handed over power to a civilian government in 1979 and 27 years since his election as president in 1999.