In a landmark move to redefine educational leadership across Nigeria, the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI) has launched its inaugural Advanced Certificate in School Leadership and Management (ACSLM) programme—an intensive 9-week course designed specifically for school principals and vice-principals in Ogun and Oyo States.
The programme kicked off at the OOLI training facility in Abeokuta with an inspiring orientation led by Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, Chairman of the OOLI Special Management Advisory Group (OSMAG) and lead facilitator of the course.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who addressed participants at the opening ceremony, underscored the critical role school leaders play in shaping the future of the nation.
“Children spend more hours under your watch than they do with their parents. That means you are not just educators—you are nation builders. This training is designed to help you rise to that responsibility with excellence,” Obasanjo charged the school heads.
The Director of OOLI, General (rtd) Martin Luther Agwai, emphasized that the programme aligns fully with OOLI’s mission of grooming transformational leaders who can steer complex educational environments with integrity, innovation, and impact.
“Today’s principals must go beyond managing classrooms—they are strategic thinkers tasked with creating inclusive, safe, and future-ready learning spaces,” Agwai noted.
The curriculum—crafted from a national survey of principals’ real-time needs—touches on over 20 modules, ranging from strategic planning, school safety, and financial management, to cybersecurity, digital literacy, and global best practices in education.
Okebukola explained the institute’s unique approach:
“We begin by asking the right questions—what do school leaders really need? The ACSLM isn’t based on guesswork. It’s practical, data-driven, and responsive to today’s educational realities.”
The training combines in-person and virtual modules, emphasizing case studies and hands-on exercises to ensure direct applicability in school settings. Upon completion, participants will earn the ACSLM certificate, positioning them among a select cadre of school leaders prepared to elevate education standards in Nigeria and beyond.
The programme is powered by a team of 25 distinguished resource persons, including top professors in leadership and education management and seasoned retired school principals with proven track records.
Support for the initiative has been robust. The Governors of Ogun and Oyo States, Prince Dapo Abiodun and Seyi Makinde, respectively, were commended for sponsoring school leaders and championing capacity-building in their states. Makinde was especially lauded for personally endorsing the programme and expressing willingness to serve as a resource person in future cohorts.
Also acknowledged was Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, Ogun State Commissioner for Education and former Vice-Chancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education, for his leadership in prioritizing training investments.
The training falls under the guidance of OOLI’s Special Management Advisory Group, comprising eminent scholars such as Professors Eyitope Ogunbodede, Nasir Maiturare, and Uchenna Nzewi, among others.
The ACSLM programme comes on the heels of the formal inauguration of OOLI’s Governing Board on June 3 by former Ghanaian President John Mahama, who hailed the institute as a model for leadership development across Africa.
With this bold step, the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute is not only deepening educational leadership in Nigeria—it is setting the pace for a continent-wide transformation in how schools are led and managed.