Lagos, Nigeria — The Africa Leadership Initiative West Africa (ALIWA), in strategic partnership with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI), recently convened senior leaders across sectors for the inaugural National Leadership Dialogue (NLD) in Lagos, a high-level forum focused on strengthening values-driven leadership and institutional reform in Nigeria.
Held under the theme “Reimagining Leadership in a Changing World,” the Dialogue brought together leaders from government, business, finance, technology, entrepreneurship, civil society, and media to reflect on how integrity, systems thinking and cross-sector collaboration can address Nigeria’s evolving social, economic and governance challenges.
The convening reflects ALIWA’s commitment to nurturing principled leaders who move from individual success to societal significance, alongside TBI’s mission to support governments and leaders in turning bold ambition into practical reform and measurable impact.
In his welcome address, Mr. Soji Apampa, President of ALIWA Nigeria, underscored the urgency of values-based leadership in moments of national complexity.
“In times of uncertainty, leadership must be anchored in integrity, clarity, and a shared commitment to practical action, not symbolism. Platforms like the National Leadership Dialogue are critical to shaping leaders who can define reality honestly and work collectively to deliver meaningful change for our country.”
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, ALIWA Fellow, Chairman of African Capital Alliance, and former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, emphasized that integrity must be embedded within strong institutional frameworks.
“Integrity in leadership cannot survive on good intentions alone. It must be reinforced by strong systems, transparency, and accountability, because leadership, when exercised as stewardship, has the power to transform nations.”
The Dialogue featured two high-level panels. The first examined resilient leadership for the 21st century, focusing on ethical decision-making, inclusion, and leading under pressure. The second explored the building of resilient systems through governance reform, technology, partnerships, and institutional accountability.
Together, the discussions underscored a shared philosophy central to both ALIWA and TBI: sustainable national progress requires principled individuals supported by strong, accountable institutions.
Additional sessions included a 2026 economic outlook presentation by the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and an ALIWA Fellow Impact Presentation highlighting institutional reform initiatives led by Amina Oyagbola, Founder of WISCAR, and Prof. Fabian Ajogwu SAN OFR, Founder of the Society for Corporate Governance.
The National Leadership Dialogue represents an important step in deepening collaboration between values-based leadership networks and global reform institutions. Through this partnership, ALIWA and TBI aim to strengthen leadership capacity, institutional resilience, and policy implementation across Nigeria.
