The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, says he has inspired many African leaders who have also gone ahead to create social change. Tinubu, who is a former governor of Lagos State, said this at the formal launch of the Centre for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership and his investiture as the Patron at the University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom, according to a statement on Wednesday.
The APC leader, who was represented by his wife, Remi, said national leadership must establish the right policies, provide the necessary infrastructure and create the enabling institutional environment under which ambitious entrepreneurs can become productive. He said:
“Visionary and disciplined leadership in Africa is one thing I am passionate about. I have invested much of my adult life to mentoring new leaders who can create opportunities for citizens to exercise and actualise their full potentials.
“I am gratified to see how many of those whom I have worked with have excelled and have gone on to inspire others to embrace the model of selfless, result-oriented leadership. I am inspired by how democratic values and principles create the condition for individuals to access opportunities to better their lives and the lives of others.”
The APC leader said he contributed greatly to the struggle against military rule. He added that he would continue to protect democracy in Africa. Tinubu said Africa had become a more peaceful continent than it was many years ago because most African countries are now practising democracy. He said:
“As a democrat who fought against military dictatorships, I appreciate the fragile gains of democratic governance. Because of the momentum of democracy and rule of law, Africa is now, more than ever, primed for economic growth and productive partnerships.
“Citizens have become more aware and more engaged in the process of choosing their own leaders. They are dismantling undemocratic structures that have held them back far too long. African economies are increasingly becoming more rational and focused on identifying what shall be their critical path to development.”
The former governor lamented the spate of terrorism in the North-East but urged the government to also concentrate on rehabilitating victims and providing relief to them. He said there was a need for the world to come together to battle terrorism as the recent attack in Paris had shown that even developed countries are now vulnerable to attacks.