Awolowo Foundation Announces 2026 Memorial Lecture on Visionary Leadership
The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation has announced the 2026 edition of its annual Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Lecture, scheduled to take place on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the historic Efunyela Hall in Ikenne, Ogun State.
The theme of this year’s lecture is “Politics as Future-Making: Awolowo and Leadership as Theory of Action.”
In a statement issued by the Executive Director of the Foundation, Ambassador Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, the theme was described as timely and significant, particularly in light of Africa’s pressing need for visionary, ethical, and transformational leadership.
According to her, the 2026 lecture will interrogate and illuminate the enduring relevance of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s political philosophy, especially his conception of leadership as purposeful, disciplined, and rooted in social transformation.
“The Foundation remains committed to sustaining rigorous engagement with Chief Awolowo’s ideas and their applicability to contemporary governance challenges,” she stated.
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The event will be chaired by elder statesman and diplomat, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, GCON, GCVO, CFR, former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. The Foundation noted that Chief Anyaoku’s lifelong dedication to principled public service reflects the core values championed by the late sage.
Delivering the keynote address will be renowned scholar and public intellectual, Professor Wale Adebanwi, Presidential Penn Compact Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Professor Adebanwi, widely respected for his scholarship on African politics, governance, and leadership, is expected to present a thought-provoking lecture that situates Awolowo’s ideas within contemporary debates on statecraft, democratic responsibility, and national development.
The Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Lecture is the Foundation’s flagship annual programme, established to promote sustained reflection on the life, legacy, and public policy contributions of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Over the years, the lecture series has drawn eminent scholars, statesmen, professionals, and members of the public from across Nigeria and beyond, all united by a shared commitment to democratic governance, social justice, and human development.
The Foundation said it expects the 2026 edition to further deepen intellectual discourse on leadership and nation-building, in line with the enduring ideals of one of Nigeria’s foremost political thinkers.
By PRNigeria
