By Joy Omagha Idam, Abuja
The former Nigerian Minister of Education, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, has called on the 2023 graduands of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG) to be good ambassadors of the institution. She warned that certificates issued to them would be retrieved if found wanting in character or competence in any public office. She said this at the third graduation ceremony of (SPPG) on Saturday 7th October, 2023.

Dr Ezekwesili stressed the 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 and her rightful position”.

“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 amongst us. And if you reject a situation then you must act to correct that situation” Dr Ezekwesili noted.

Ezekwesili, who is the founder of the SPPG, said that the school was borne out of the need to groom leaders with integrity to saturate the political and business sectors so as to cause positive change. She “urged the graduands to always be of good character and uphold the values of character, competence and capacity preached by the school”.

Dr Ezekwesili, said the canal Supplying Politicians in Africa and Nigeria in particular, was grossly corrupt and needs urgent transformation if the socio-economic backwardness being experienced must be tackled.

This was even as she disclosed that her School of Politics, Policy and Governance ( SPPG) was an unconventional establishment, targeting to purge the corrupted political pipeline.
Dr Ezekwesili, also noted that sitting down and not doing things differently, has remained the enabler of the economic and political underdevelopment in African countries.

She disclosed that the unconventional school started three years ago, was borne out of rigorous research which exposed the ill with the political structures of Africa, using Nigeria as a Special Case Study.
According to her, the political landscape of Nigeria and Africa at large was dominated by people who think about themselves and their immediate family circle, at the detriment of national interest.

“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 equally stated that SPPG which started in Nigeria, has started extending its tentacles of influence to other African countries, and will remain committed to grooming leaders with integrity to take over the political and business sectors.
Also, the Vice Chancellor of the School, Alero Ayida-Otobo, noted that SPPG was designed to correct the economic performance of Africa and Nigeria as a particular study case.
In his keynote address, a Zimbabwean member of the Parliament, Hon. Gift Siziba, urged the youths to break all barriers and get involved in the political leadership of the continent.
Hon Siziba added that there was hope of recovering the continent from the debris of political doldrums if only the young people could arise to challenge the old order.

The Best Graduating Student SPPG 2023, Ndidi Justina Edeoghon, who was also Best Graduating Student Female, said she returned all the glory to God for making this happen. Adding that ” i would do my best in giving back to the society. There is a whole lot to be done, i dedicate this plaques to God and all the lives that need to be touched”.
