Building legacies: Governance, successor-generation and continuity

Being text of the lecture delivered by Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji, at the 2026 Afe Babalola Distinguished Personality Lecture

Introduction

1. IT gives me a great privilege to stand before you this day to deliver the Annual Afe Babalola Distinguished Personality Lecture. I am told this Lecture Series began in 2021 by the Department of Conflict, Peace and Strategic Studies which effectively makes today’s lecture the fifth edition. I therefore want to congratulate the Department of Conflict, Peace and Strategic Studies for envisioning and sustaining the lecture as a worthy platform for the advancement of public discourse. I am proud to give the fifth edition of the lecture and I am grateful to the University authorities for the invitation.

 Tribute to Aare Afe Babalola

2.Ladies and gentlemen, let me begin by using this opportunity to pay tribute to our father, in whose honour this lecture was instituted, Aare Afe Emmanuel Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, D.Litt, a man whom God is truly with; a highly respected Ekiti patriarch, a very distinguished Ekiti elder statesman, an archbishop in the legal temple, a towering national figure, a devout church patron and one of the most iconic African achievers of modern era.

3.The life of Aare is an eloquent testimony to the sheer power of human spirit and the determination to overcome adversity under the most inclement backgrounds. Here is a man who rose from the ashes of obscurity and stamped his presence in the consciousness of the world as the legendary legal luminary of all times. Through the dint of hard work and integrity, he has become the most significant legal personality brand in today’s Nigeria.

4.Aare Afe Babalola is a school for study, a course to undertake and a laureate to earn. Starting out as son of a peasant farmer, who through divine arrangement, had the opportunity of attending the Emmanuel Primary School, Ado-Ekiti, the only formal education he had; and without any secondary education, self-tutored himself to obtain a GCE and then enrolled for a degree in Economics at the University of London through a correspondence programme, there is no doubt that Baba is a phenomenal.

5. The real intrigue to his visionary personality however, is that despite having to self-sponsor and fend for himself, one would expect him to have been satisfied with a degree in Economics which was a goldmine in his days, but that was not for the visionary Afe. He only used the Economics degree as a stepping stone to his bigger dream of becoming a self-employed lawyer. Through hard work, avowed honesty, undeniable exceptionality, demonstrated competence and untainted integrity, he emerged as one the most decorated legal juggernauts in the history of the Nigerian Bar.

6.            In his riveting autobiography, Making Impossibility Possible, Aare copiously illustrates his pains and gains, and has given all of us a life manual to follow and a legacy to live by. One great lesson to learn from Aare is his positivity to life experience. He is not the one to bemoan his disadvantages; he would rather convert every acute adversity to prosperous opportunity. This remarkable University, ABUAD, and its allied conglomerate, are eloquent illustrations to this positivity disposition. 

7.            If you are close to Baba or has been his guest for more than ten minutes, he would have regaled you with the story of how he came about the establishment of this University in this location. A major motif that you cannot afford to miss is his determination to prove the naysayers wrong. He is such a determined and stubbornly unyielding person in the pursuit of his dreams. His personal motivation was and still is, to create a citadel of excellence with local impact and global relevance.

ABUAD, A University on the Move

8. Today, there is hardly any doubt, that, he has achieved this within the last 16 years of this University’s existence. And there is much evidence to justify this.  Apart from the reputation of ABUAD as a University of choice for many diaspora Nigerians who want their children to acquire higher education in Nigeria, the University is noted for coming top in critical professional examinations such as those of Nigerian Legal Education Council, National Medical and Dentistry Council of Nigeria, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Council for the Registration of Engineers in Nigeria, among other notable professional organizations.

9.            Just recently, the University is ranked among 100 top global universities, 3rd in African and 1st in Nigeria by the Times Higher Education Impact. A position the University has consistently maintained since 2022 to date.

10.          ABUAD Independent Power Project, a N50 billion power plant that produces about 5 Mega Watt which has made the University energy sufficient, independent and efficient is another testimony to the forward looking vision of the University. As a result, this has rubbed off on the enviable success of the ABUAD Industrial Research Park, ABUAD Farms and ABUAD Multi-system Medical Hospital, a hospital that has become a reference point in sub Sahara-Africa.

11.          The University, has, through competent management, established a cluster of integrated systems which has brought about internal economies of scale, backward and forward integration and cost optimization. The result is a University that is already self-sustaining, fast growing and leading in its core mandates.

12.          I therefore want to congratulate the Founder, the University Management, Staff and Students of this amazing institution on the remarkable achievements already made, the goodwill and the incredible potential of the University in the future to come. This University is clearly on the move to be the best at all times, as it has not only challenged older generation universities, it has overtaken many of them in performance assessment. The University is not only leading in teaching and learning, it is leading in research, impact, innovation, reputation and global presence. It is also becoming a model for the 21st century Nigerian University. Congratulation to you all!

13.          Ladies and gentlemen, in trying to discuss the broad topic herein under consideration, I will attempt to headline the key concepts and integrate them into an organic discourse. As of style, the presentation is in simple free flow exposition without the usual tradition of academic citations.

Conceptualizing Legacies

14. The critical question can be asked as to: ‘What is Legacy?’ Simple dictionary definitions suggest that legacy can be described as:

i. “something handed down from an ancestor, predecessor, or the past, typically referring to money/property willed to someone or lasting impacts like traditions, technology, or reputation…”Merriam-Webster online Dictionary

ii.             “something that is part of your history, or that remains from an earlier time. It is also used to describe something such as technology which still exists or is still used, but is from an earlier time than other similar things which have since been invented” Cambridge online Dictionary

15.          In summary, ‘legacy’ can be defined as a bequest, (as is in property inheritance), culture, heritage, relics, knowledge, enduring practice, technology, among others. ‘Legacy’ can be a material or an immaterial value that is passed from one generation to another, or a belief, memory or practice that is held in perpetuity because of the historical significance it bears.

16.          Building legacies, therefore, can be explained as the deliberate or involuntary efforts to preserve a valuable property, institution or culture. In this lecture, we shall interpret ‘legacy’ as the act of preserving, sustaining and transferring institutional structures, memory, goals, values, practices and achievements from the pioneers to the successor-generations.

17.          Legacy, apart from being a property, can be an idea that an individual bequeaths to his estate or an institution. A man who likes to help the poor may set up a foundation as a legacy that his children or the trustees should continue in his name after he is gone.

18.          A man who loves education may will part(s) of his property as an endowment to higher institutions of learning as a standing legacy in his name. He may also establish a centre that is dedicated to research in specific areas of human challenges. Some may even build religious institutions to advance their religious beliefs or sustain their impact within the faith community.

19.          Institutions or nations may also establish symbolic monuments, structures, occasion or celebration in honour of important historic figures whose contributions have become a legacy for generations to come. Such symbolic monuments may be naming buildings, institutions, roads or any such other infrastructure. In Nigeria, we have Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Obafemi Awolowo University, Amhadu Bello Way, Abuja, Michael Imodu Centre for Labour Studies, Ilorin, and of course, AfeBabalola University, Ado-Ekiti.

20.          Within the Christian Orthodox traditions, there are many Christian patriarchs that have been canonized and celebrated on dedicated days. We have such days as St John’s Day, St. Valentine’s Day, St Patrick Day, St Augustine’s Day among other great Christian patriarchs whose legacies are celebrated on such solemn occasions.

21.          Governments at State and Federal levels also celebrate the legacies of Independence from colonial rule, anniversary of State Creation as we have in Ekiti and Afe Babalola Day being celebrated in Ado-Ekiti. These Days signify major historical events which are kept as important legacies for the next generation.

Building a Successor-Generation

22.          According to Simon Sinek, “a leader’s legacy is only as strong as the foundation they leave behind that allows others to continue to advance the organization in their names.” It is often said that a predecessor without a worthy successor is a failure. This is because, great visions and achievements that are not continued are like a rose flower left in a scorching sun to etiolate. Similarly, a successor that is not committed to the visions and ideas that catapult him to the position of leadership is like a rapist and dissembler who took an advantage of an innocent trust. As it is said, you cannot reinvent the wheel, you only need to expand the use of the wheel. As a people, we cannot continue to start afresh as if we have no memory.

23.          So, as a leader implements his vision, he must have a succession plan that will sustain the vision. Similarly, to transform the vision of a leader to an enduring legacy, the leader must have a layer of passionate, capable, dedicated and committed lieutenants who not only believe in the vision but are also committed to its continuation and improvement. This is how a legacy can be built.

24.          Let me give a practical example. Sometimes in 2002, my political leader, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, the then Governor of Ekiti and I were traveling to the USA and then we came across Dr. Kayode Fayemi who was also traveling to another country at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport. By this time, I didn’t know much about Dr. Kayode Fayemi. He introduced me to him and I withdrew aside. After they had exchanged pleasantries and parted, Otunba Adebayo told me “if I win the second term election (2003), I want to bring him in to the cabinet as Commissioner of Special Duties so as to be able to understudy the Government, as I will like to hand over to him as Ekiti Governor.” Although, Dr. Fayemi himself was not aware of this plan, it was a secret known to Otunba. Unfortunately, Otunba lost the 2003 election and when he had the opportunity to recontest in 2007, he sought for DrFayemi, instead.

25.          In other words, right from 2002, Otunba Adebayo had already signposted his succession plan and he was on hand to put in place a strategy to actualize it. And when the political outcome delayed the plan, he remained committed to its actualization.

26.          The second example relates to me. When Dr. Fayemi became the Governor in 2010, many envisaged that I would get what was often referred to as ‘juicy’ appointment. But contrary to such expectation, the Governor posted me to a newly created Ministry of Regional Integration and Intergovernmental Affairs as the pioneer Commissioner. Many saw the posting as a punishment but I took the challenge and made noticeable impact that greatly impressed the Governor. When the World Bank, as part of the public sector transformation programmes in Ekiti, sought the nomination of a person to head a proposed Office of Transformation, Strategy and Service Delivery, the Governor again nominated me as one of those to be interviewed for the position and I was eventually selected after a very rigorous exercise. Again, I became the Director General of the Office which was at the centre of overhauling the public service delivery and institutional reformation of the State Government in its entirety. This enabled me to understand every aspect of governance.

27.          Not long after, the State wanted to transform the Ministry of Budget and Planning in line with the World Bank requirements; again, the Governor posted me there to oversee the transformation. And for those who know, Budget and Economic Planning is very strategic to the development vision of any Government.

28.          Unfortunately, he also lost his re-election in 2014. When he returned in 2018, I was surprised to hear that I had been announced as the Secretary to the State Government. Even though Dr Fayemi did not tell me or anybody about his succession plan, it was clear he had a plan. As SSG, he ensured I was deeply involved in key decision making and present in critical meetings of Government. I must state that I was not the only person so privileged, but it was clear he had deliberately prepared some of us without discussing it with anyone.

29.          The key thing to note is that succession plan must be deliberate, even though it could be kept secret to avoid undue rivalry and conflicts. The successor generation must understand the vision, be part of the challenges and successes and be a strategic participant. Above all, the successor must have been tested and earned the trust to take the banner forward. Lets quickly check out my own examples:

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let’s backtrack to Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo’s administration between 1999-2003. My first appointment was as Special Assistant, later I was elevated to Special Adviser of cabinet rank and ended as Chief of Staff – three political appointments in four (4) years.

In four years of Governor Fayemi’s first term in office (2010-2014), I also had three different political appointments – first as Commissioner for Integration, then Head, Office of Transformation, Strategy and Service Delivery and later as Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning.

Therefore, having three different political appointments within four (4) years  under two different administrations is not a mere coincidence, but a recognition of ability to add values to governance.

30.          To build a successor-generation, especially, in private organizations, the legacy builder must undertake some of these:

i.              Create a transcendental vision, ideas or values that are transferable to the next generation.

ii.             Create an enduring system that is independent of the individuals within the organization.

iii.            Establish an institutional framework for rewards, incentives and discipline.

iv.           Establish a control and compliance mechanism.

v.            Establish a disciplined corporate governance system.

vi.           Induction and continuous training for the staff.

vii.          Strict corporate branding and internalization of corporate character.

viii.         Mentorship and successor transition framework.

31.          I want to end this section by emphasizing that there is no one-fit-all strategy for all leadership situations. Organizations and the nature of their structures will normally influence the direction of leadership recruitment strategy. One important policy that every organization should bear in mind, is that he who cannot get to the top should never be recruited to start at the bottom of the officer cadre. The day an officer is recruited he must be so recruited because he has what it takes to lead the organization in the future.

32.          I must state that political leadership is in many senses, different from private organizations. Similarly, one must remark that in a multiparty system, the succession plan could be very uncertain as electoral outcomes can be quite unpredictable. In spite of this uncertainty, a good visionary leader will always have a plan in place so as to sustain his vision and legacy.

Good Governance and Continuity

33.          Even though the principle of good governance is applicable in all corporate leadership situations, it is often associated with government institutions. I will therefore want to look at good governance from the public sector leadership perspective. The idea of good governance stemmed from the United Nations’ definition of how public administration should be conducted. It was developed as part of public sector reform as a precondition to access finance from international financial institutions such as the World Bank.

34.          So, while governance can generally be described as the process of administering public institutions in terms of policy implementation, resource allocation and enforcement of laws, good governance is described as the process by which public institutions conduct public affairs and manage collective resources in a way that guarantees human rights and free of abuse or corruption.

35.          The idea of good governance is therefore a prescriptive criterion that is based on certain principles. These principles, when adopted and faithfully inculcated into public management, will lead to the actualization of the global development goals as enunciated in the Sustainable Development Goals and other development initiatives.

36.          According to the United Nations, every government institution is expected to implement policy and programmes guided by the eight principles of good governance:

i.              Participation

ii.             Rule of law

iii.            Transparency

iv.           Responsiveness

v.            Consensus orientation

vi.           Equity and inclusiveness

vii.          Effectiveness and efficiency

viii.         Accountability

37.          While these principles are fundamental to good governance and policy success, they sometimes do not fit into how people view good governance locally, especially in Nigeria.

38.          For our people, good governance is beyond prescriptive protocols. We measure good governance not by the obsessive procedures but by real outcomes. Good governance for our people means: peaceful environment, access to education, affordable health care, good roads, effective rail systems, affordable food, housing and a secured environment.

39.          Indeed, experiences have shown that obsession with institutional procedures can be counterproductive to effective governance, as endless procedures can lead to redtapism, delayed project execution and more costly projects as a result of inflationary factors.

40.          That is why I have always insisted that while the prescribed principles of good governance are theoretically useful, practical application should reflect the realities of the socio-economic and socio-political situations of the specific jurisdiction in relations to improvement in the living condition of the citizens.

41.          It is for this reason that as a State, we have a legacy development plan that was publicly presented in 2022, Ekiti State Development Plan 2020 – 2050. The document highlights the development priority of Ekiti State in the next 30 years. The document draws copiously from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other national development suggestions.

42.          It was from these invaluable policy guides that we developed our campaign manifesto in 2022. And when we won, we turned the manifest into the Six Pillars of Administration, which is the compass that directs our policies, programmes and projects.

43.          I must mention that at the core of our philosophy as an administration is the concept of continuity of inherited government projects. Apart from the fact that this administration is a continuation of the last one as we belong to the same party and I was also a critical participant in the preceding administration, I was personally convinced that each government is a continuation of those before it. So, I was committed to the completion of projects that existed before our administration, including projects started by Chief Segun Oni, Mr. Ayodele Fayose and my immediate predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.

44.          The benefit of this is that today, we have completed the rehabilitation of Ifaki-Iworoko-Ado-Ekiti Road, The Ekiti Agro-allied International Cargo Airport, the first phase of the Ring Road, the IPP project, Traditional Council Chamber, Ado-Ekiti Bus Terminal, RAAMP roads, among other legacy projects. Additionally, we have also delivered or continuing on many projects that were initiated by our administration, such as power projects that have seen electricity supply improvement across the State. Many roads projects within Ado Metropolis such as GRA III Extension Road, Maryland Road, Okeila Road, Agric-Olope Matthew link Road, Moferere Road, Omisanjana -Ajebamdele Road, Ajilosun Road. We have also completed Ikole-Ara-Isinbode Road, Omu-Ijelu Road, Ikere-Ise-Ekiti Road, Ikere-Ilawe, Ikere-Igbaraodo, Ikogosi-Igbara-Odo, Itawure-Okemesi Road among other roads across communities in most LGAs in our State, while many projects are at various stages of completion.

45.          Our Government is currently building an 80-bed complex at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, in addition to the complete overhauling and equipping of all our secondary and primary health facilities. We are also in the process of completing the International Centre for Arts and Culture and Indoor Sports Complex in Ado-Ekiti.

46.          We have continued to maintain, sustain and improve on the legacy of democratic governance that was passed to us. We are determined to make Ekiti far better than we met it. We are committed to the next goal of making Ekiti the preferred destination for industry , commerce, tourism and technology. This is the vision behind the Agric Processing Zone, Ado Central Business District, Ekiti Knowledge Zone, the Airport and the recently awarded network of internal roads in the State capital. We understand the integrated, inter-sectoral and intergovernmental nature of development implementation and we are doing everything possible to work it through, in an organic and sustainable manner.

47.          Beyond those aforementioned, however, I must mention that Ekiti Transition Law 2022 also mandates the continuation of government projects by the succeeding administration. Indeed, Ekiti is the only State with such legislation which forbids abandonment of projects by succeeding administration. Institutional frameworks like this are the greatest strengths to preserve a people’s legacy. It is therefore my considered opinion that the best way to preserve legacy and ensure continuity is through the establishment of institutional systems that carry on seamlessly without the presence of the pioneers.

48.          There is definitely a lot to say about Ekiti Governance and the imperative of continuity, I will however not want to further prolong your listening patience. I therefore want to end this lecture by highlighting the legacy of Aare Afe Babalola as an exemplar and model for all of us. In the course of this lecture I have highlighted the meaning of legacy and how we can entrench good ideas for posterity. I have also mentioned some of the strategies through which great people’s legacies are preserved.

The Legacies of Aare AfeBabalola

49.          The Legacy of Hardwork. One of the greatest legacies of Aare Afe Babalola is his unrepentant belief in hard work as the surest path to success and prosperity. Every step taken by Aare is a pointer to his strong belief in hardwork and the power of positive thinking or how else do you explain his establishment of a university at an advanced age of his life. A feat many would have considered ‘crazy’ at that time.

In the legal profession, Emmanuel Chambers remains a reference point in jurisprudency and advocacy. It has produced so many SANs, Judges, Attorney Generals, including the present Attorney General of the Federal and Minister of Justice.

50.          Legacy of Education. For example, Aare Afe Babalola did not have the privilege of a formal education, he has left humanity with the legacy of establishing primary, secondary and one of the fastest growing universities in Africa. This is apart from different endowments and infrastructure donations to public institutions such as University of Lagos and Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti to mention a few. He was also instrumental to the establishment of the Federal Polytechnic and Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

51.          Legacy of Investment in Health. Aare Afe Babalola remembered the assault child mortality did his infant siblings, many of whom did not survive; he remembered how his father died suddenly, an incident that nearly ruined his future, all because of lack of medical facilities during his growing age. Today, Aare has given humanity, Africa’s most celebrated medical hospital – ABUAD Multisystem Hospital and its annexes.

52.          Legacy of Agriculture. The ABUAD Farm speaks to his belief in the power of Agriculture as a tool for self reliance and wealth creation. The farm is one of the best in Africa with his array of farm products. Another Agriculture legacy is the Annual ABUAD Agric Show where he encourages farmers from all Local Governments to showcase their products and empower them on a yearly basis.

53.          Legacy of Empowerment. Aare remembered how lack of funding nearly deprived him of a higher education, he has instituted different scholarship and empowerment schemes for the children of the downtrodden. Through this, he has empowered so many individuals and cooperative societies to start a trade or improve their commerce or further their education.

54.          The Legacy of Ekiti State. The Ekiti State which I am privileged to lead today is one of his enduring legacies. With other Ekiti patriots and patriarchs, it is to his eternal credit that his wide network of goodwill and personal commitment was partly responsible for the creation of Ekiti State in 1996. At a time when hope was dying off, Aare came to the rescue, offering to use his wide contacts and goodwill to ensure the State was created.

55.          Legacy of Gratitude. Aare Afe Babalola is also big on the legacy of gratitude. He is a very grateful individual who shows appreciation through generosity to the Church, professional associations, communities, schools and humanity at large. He has taught us that if God has blessed you, the only way to show gratitude to God is to extend your blessings to others. There is hardly anyone around Ekiti who is more generous than Aare Afe Babalola.

56.          Legacy of Simplicity and Humility. Despite his privileged position as a highly successful lawyer and elder statesman, Baba remains simple and humble. He does not throw himself around neither bully those beneath him. He is a father to all and a big Iroko under which many seek refuge.

57.          Indeed, there are a lot of lessons we can learn from his life and the many impacts he has made on all of us. His legacy and institutional building are legendary. It is my prayer that he continues to live in good health, long life and prosperity.

58.          Finally, I want to once again congratulate the Department of Conflict, Peace and Strategic Studies, the College of Social and Management Science, the University management and everyone that has come here to be part of this. My sincere gratitude for the invitation and for providing the platform to share my thoughts with you. May the good Lord bless you all.

To Aare Afe Babalola and Yeye Modupe Babalola, long may you live.

59.          Thank you for listening and God bless.