Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and renowned Pan-African scholar, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, will headline the 2025 Leadership Conference organized by the GOTNI Leadership Centre. The two-day event, scheduled for September 5–6, will gather influential leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers under the theme “Transforming Minds, Inspiring Results.”
Obasanjo, speaking beyond the sphere of politics, will focus on entrepreneurship and business leadership, while Lumumba will challenge participants on the importance of mindset transformation and leadership from an individual perspective.
Announcing the conference at a press briefing, GOTNI’s founder and chief executive, Dr. Linus Okorie, emphasized that Nigeria’s path to progress requires leaders who are intentional about placing themselves in environments that reshape their mindset and equip them to deliver meaningful results.
“Our nation is at a challenging crossroads. Leaders across sectors are struggling with circumstances they neither desired nor fully understand,” Okorie explained. “For transformation to happen, individuals must first master leadership in their own lives and businesses. When this shift occurs at scale, Nigeria will inevitably move toward true transformation.”
He further noted that poor leadership values remain a stumbling block, with many citizens supporting politicians who lack integrity due to personal interests or short-term benefits. According to him, building a critical mass of leaders with the right mindset is the only way to change this culture.
“Before you occupy any position, your worldview should be service to the system and to society—not taking from it,” Okorie added.
Other distinguished speakers expected at the event include:
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Ambassador Gautier Mignot, Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria,
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Dr. Corrie Block, global business strategist and executive coach, and
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Iman Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs.
The conference is set to provide a platform for robust dialogue and practical insights on leadership, governance, and innovation, with the ultimate goal of raising a new generation of leaders capable of driving sustainable change in Nigeria and beyond.
