At Access Bank GLS, Minister Tunji-Ojo Champions Purpose-Driven Leadership and Reform
Hon. Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, delivered a powerful keynote address at the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series (GLS) on Friday, held at the bank’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos. Speaking under the theme “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate,” the Minister called on leaders in both public and private sectors to embrace innovation-driven governance, ethical leadership, and urgent reforms—especially in Nigeria’s correctional system.
Drawing from his experience as an ethical hacker, Dr. Tunji-Ojo emphasized the need for proactive leadership. “Leadership is not about reacting to problems, it is about foreseeing and solving them before they occur,” he said, urging leaders to ask themselves: “What is your purpose? How will you execute it? And when is the right time to act?”
The Minister highlighted transformative achievements within the Ministry of Interior, including clearing over 200,000 backlog passport applications and eradicating ₦28 billion in legacy debt—all accomplished without additional federal funding. These successes were driven by system integration, technology innovation, and financial self-reliance, featuring advancements such as e-visa platforms, contactless passport renewals for Nigerians abroad, enhanced passenger information systems, and the launch of a Tier-4 data centre to support 24/7 immigration services.
A poignant moment of the event was Dr. Tunji-Ojo’s candid discussion of the country’s correctional system challenges. He revealed that more than 4,000 inmates remain incarcerated nationwide simply because they cannot afford fines as low as ₦50,000. “This is not a legal crisis, it is a moral one,” he declared. “A society that punishes poverty more harshly than crime has lost its moral compass.”
The Ministry has since collaborated with private donors to free many non-violent offenders and is implementing reforms focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment. Initiatives include digital case tracking to avoid indefinite detention, vocational training inside correctional centres, and public-private partnerships to improve facility conditions and efficiency. “A correctional facility must correct, not condemn,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo stressed. “Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise.”
Access Holdings PLC Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede welcomed the Minister and commended his visionary leadership. “What Dr. Tunji-Ojo has demonstrated is that innovation is not about big budgets, it is about big thinking,” he said. “His approach embodies the impact and excellence that define Access Group.”
Aig-Imoukhuede further noted the lecture series’ role in fostering conversations about leadership, accountability, and sustainable change. “We cannot build the Nigeria we want without leaders who understand systems, value people, and are committed to lasting progress.”
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The event gathered top executives, policymakers, and thought leaders, reinforcing Access Bank’s commitment not just as a financial institution but as a catalyst for national transformation through dialogue and collaboration.
Closing his remarks, Dr. Tunji-Ojo urged attendees to adopt a philosophy of purpose and excellence: “Let Access Bank not just be a financial institution, let it be a philosophy. Let Nigeria not just be a country of potential, let it be a nation of performance. It is time to refine our genius, not just export it.”
