Pastor Bakare: Citadel School to Raise Nation Builders

Pastor Tunde Bakare, the Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church (previously known as Latter Rain Assembly), stated that his initiative to establish a school of government aims to cultivate nation builders in Nigeria who will advocate for innovative governance practices across various facets of public leadership.

Bakare made these remarks during the inauguration of the Citadel School of Government and the introduction of the inaugural class for the Advanced Diploma in Public Leadership and Statecraft, which is in collaboration with the University of Lagos Business School (ULBS), held in Lagos.

In his inaugural address, Bakare, who is both founder and board chairman of the Citadel School of Government, shared that his motivation for founding the school was to tackle the developmental challenges facing Nigeria.

The passionate televangelist remarked, “It brings me immense joy to welcome you all to the official launch of the Citadel School of Government. This is a landmark event whose importance transcends words. Undoubtedly, the seed we are sowing here today will flourish into a vast forest, with roots firmly established in our nation and branches extending worldwide, offering the essence of transformative governance.

“It is no accident that the formal inauguration of this institution, the Citadel School of Government, coincides with the induction of the Pioneer Class of our premier program, the Advanced Diploma in Public Leadership and Statecraft, which we are presenting in collaboration with Nigeria’s leading university, the University of Lagos, and more specifically, Nigeria’s renowned business school, the University of Lagos Business School.

“Allow me to take this moment to extend heartfelt congratulations to the seventy individuals who have made history by becoming the first-ever participants in the Advanced Diploma in Public Leadership and Statecraft. With your admission into this program, I firmly believe that Nigeria is on the verge of witnessing a fresh tide of transformative leadership across various sectors.

With your inclusion in this program, I have no doubt that a new generation devoid of greed, firmly opposing corruption, and a group of changemakers is about to be primed for significant visibility and impact. From your involvement in and completion of this program, I am convinced that the initial outcomes of a distinct breed are set to surface to begin spearheading the change Nigeria needs at all levels—from local to subnational, national, continental, and even global scales.

“This initiative has understandably sparked interest among numerous stakeholders within the Nigerian context, with many seeking to understand the purpose behind it. Some have queried whether this is politically motivated. Others have wondered if we are planning to establish a university. Some, in search of an appropriate label, simply ask, “What is Bakare up to again?”

While I appreciate the curiosity from those who are uncertain, I am aware that not everyone has direct access to me or my staff to find answers to these and other inquiries. I recognize that while elements of the response to these questions are publicly available, including on the Citadel School of Government’s website and in speeches I’ve delivered recently, including at the recently concluded Facilitators Workshop held on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at the Lecture Hall of the Citadel School of Government, this moment offers an additional opportunity to articulate the vision clearly so that anyone who reads it may act upon it.”

In addition, Bakare stated, “At the Citadel School of Government, we have an ambitious and distinct vision to establish ourselves as a globally respected institution that facilitates the rise of innovative nations, starting with Nigeria. These nations will have nimble and accountable governments whose influence is deeply felt by the populace; nations that create, adapt, and implement technological advancements; nations where decisions are guided by knowledge and wisdom and where leadership is centered on service; and nations where leaders and citizens think globally while acting locally.

By taking this initial step, we are on track to close the leadership gap in public sector governance in Nigeria, Africa, and, by extension, throughout the world. “ We will achieve this by equipping current public sector leaders with access to modern tools for ongoing development and by promoting the movement of high-quality leadership from the private sector to the public sector.

Moreover, through our partnership with the esteemed University of Lagos, we aim to connect the academic realm with the policy-making sphere through the unimpeded exchange of ideas, policies, strategies, and solutions between both sectors. The inaugural class of the Advanced Diploma in Public Leadership and Statecraft plays a crucial role in this vision. Our goal is to cultivate nation builders like you—leaders grounded in ethical values and armed with the skills needed to advocate for modern governance across various areas of public leadership.”

Former Minister of Education Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili also emphasized that leadership continues to be a significant obstacle to Africa’s development, but she quickly noted that the continent has no reason to accept failure. She further expressed concern that corruption has deeply infiltrated the country’s struggling institutions, be they in the private sector, civil society, or public sector.

Ezekwesili, who asserted that Nigeria has no reason to fail, remarked that failure is “not our destiny.” She stated, “When I encounter individuals who accept the failures of our nation, I realize that there is no common ground between those individuals and me. This perspective does not stem from arrogance but from a place of valuing my convictions.

“If you have come to the Citadel School of Governance, it should not be solely because Bakare founded it; your participation is not motivated by that—this notion is absurd. You have chosen to engage, not because of Pastor Bakare, but because you grasp the urgency of transforming this country and continent, which are burdened with backwardness that lacks justification.

“We have no reason to accept failure. Failure is not our destiny. So, if you have decided to collaborate with him, whether as a facilitator or as part of an institution, you should be compensating him. The reality is that all existing institutions within our nation, whether in the private sector, civil society, or public sector, are struggling.

“Corruption is destructive. It devours. It begins subtly, and if unaddressed, it evolves into a beast. We liken corruption to cancer; that’s why we refer to it as the cancer of corruption. This continued until it became recognized as systemic corruption, and before long, it became normalized.

“What options do we have for survival? If you can’t defeat them, should you align yourself with them? Join whom? By doing so, you jeopardize future generations for temporary gain. This is where our paths intersect; when he (Bakare) informed me of his intentions to pursue this direction, I recognized his long-standing commitment to these issues. His continuous efforts to build people and create a movement are evident, considering his extensive experience.”

“I remembered the meeting you (Bakare) organized in 2010. I had to travel from Washington to be part of it. There is something fundamentally amiss; something is broken throughout the country. Regardless of your background, it doesn’t matter. We are united by a shared vision that we possess the capacity to make this nation function properly.

“And the conversation was constructive and had the potential to help advance our goals, but the underlying issue that has plagued our country and continent is that, irrespective of your skills or diligence, if you lack integrity, you will not progress.”
While encouraging the new students at the school to uphold high standards, she stated, “So ideally, you’re not enrolling to obtain an Advanced Diploma in Policy just to engage in fraudulent activities and replicate precisely what has harmed our society. I cannot fathom you completing this program only to turn into what you have come to loathe. Thus, the caliber of the faculty will be exceptional.”

“I instructed the last class of 2025. There are over 200 students who will graduate in October. We’ve already had 748 graduates from this program in the five years since its inception. I desire to see many more schools throughout our continent.”
“Leadership is the primary obstacle to Africa’s development. For many years, decades even, we have claimed that everything is in place except for leadership, while we have merely continued to repeat it without taking any action.”