Obasanjo to chair African Biblical Leadership Conference
Obasanjo to chair African Biblical Leadership Conference
Published By: Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi
Former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has been appointed as the chairman of the upcoming African Biblical Leadership Initiative (ABLI) Conference.
The event, organized by the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), is scheduled to take place in October at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre in Abuja.
During a news conference held on Friday in Lagos, Mr. Samuel Sanusi, Pastor and Chief Executive Officer of BSN, announced Obasanjo’s role in the conference.
“We are honored to have His Excellency, Chief Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, lead the conference as Chairman,” Sanusi stated.
The ABLI was originally established in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during a special session of the African Union prayer breakfast in 2010, attended by African Heads of States and Governments.
Sanusi emphasized that the initiative aims to foster qualitative transformation within nations through value-based leadership rooted in biblical principles.
“Our goal is to cultivate a generation of principled leaders characterized by honor, integrity, capacity, and competence,” he added.
This year marks the 11th edition of the ABLI Conference, themed “Value-Based Leadership: Model for Africa.”
The event will feature a diverse lineup of distinguished guests, including Her Excellency, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, CON, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Patron of BSN.
Other notable attendees include Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Mr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Delegates from various regions, including Africa, Europe, America, and Asia, are expected to participate, alongside General Secretaries and CEOs of African Bible Societies.
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The conference will host keynote speeches from Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng, former Chief Justice of South Africa, and Dr. Zienzi Dillon, Founder and CEO of Carmel Global Capital in New York.
Sanusi noted that the plenary sessions will cover topics such as the Value of Social Harmony, Justice, Integrity, and Wisdom.
Esteemed speakers will include Mrs. Juliet Binitie, Director of Programmes at the Institute for National Transformation Lagos, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, Constitutional Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Vishal Mangalwadi, Social Reformer and Christian Philosopher, and Justice Catherine Bamugemereire of the Supreme Court of Uganda.
A special Youth Assembly session, titled ‘Arise and Shine: Raising a New Generation of Transformational Leaders,’ will feature addresses from Pastor Poju Oyemade, Founder and Senior Pastor of The Covenant Nation, and Dr. Vishal Mangalwadi.
Addressing the challenges facing the African continent, Sanusi pointed to poor leadership, greed, corruption, and mismanagement as major obstacles to development.
Referencing United Nations data, he noted that over 31 of the 45 least developed countries are in Africa, stating the urgent need for transformative leadership.
Sanusi also criticized Nigeria’s reliance on exporting crude oil while importing refined products, labeling it “unwise, unjust, and unpatriotic.” He called on President Bola Tinubu to prioritize the revitalization of Nigeria’s refineries to alleviate fuel importation and strengthen the Naira. “Our leaders must apologize for the ongoing economic sabotage and take concrete steps to rectify these injustices,” he urged.
The conference aims to inspire African leaders to embrace integrity and ethical principles in governance. “We seek to create a paradigm shift towards leadership that exemplifies honesty, transparency, and a commitment to core values,” Sanusi stated.
The ABLI Conference will run from October 21 to October 24, starting at 9:00 a.m. daily at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
