Minister Tunji-Ojo Advocates Purpose-Driven Leadership at Access Bank GLS, Highlights Interior Ministry Reforms

L-R: Kemi Nanna Nandap, Comptroller General of Immigration; Paul Usoro (SAN), Chairman, Access Bank Plc; Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Honourable Minister of Interior; Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman Access Holdings Plc; Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, Access Holdings Plc; and Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank Plc, at Access Tower, Victoria Island, during the Guest Lecture Series hosted by Access Bank in Lagos... recently.

LAGOS, Nigeria – May 26, 2025 –The Honourable Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, delivered a compelling address at the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series (GLS) on Friday, urging public and private sector leaders to embrace purpose-driven leadership and innovation. Speaking at the bank's headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, the Minister shared a visionary outlook on governance, ethical leadership, and critical reforms within Nigeria's correctional system.

Under the theme "Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate," Tunji-Ojo, leveraging his background as an ethical hacker, emphasized that effective leadership must be proactive. "Leadership is not about reacting to problems, it is about foreseeing and solving them before they occur,” he stated. He challenged attendees to constantly ask: “What is your purpose? How will you execute it? And when is the right time to act?”

The Minister highlighted significant transformations within the Ministry of Interior since his assumption of office. These achievements include clearing a backlog of over 200,000 unprocessed passport applications*and eliminating ₦28 billion in legacy debt, all accomplished without additional financial aid from the federal government. He attributed this success to a strategic approach centered on system integration, technological innovation, and financial self-sufficiency. Key innovations showcased included the rollout of e-visa platforms, contactless passport renewals for Nigerians in the diaspora, advanced passenger information systems, and the commissioning of a Tier-4 data center to support 24/7 immigration services.

Addressing the Correctional System Crisis

In a powerful moment during the lecture, Dr. Tunji-Ojo spoke passionately about the dire state of Nigeria’s correctional system. He revealed that over **4,000 inmates** nationwide were being held in custodial centers simply because they could not afford to pay 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 Minister explained that his Ministry has since partnered with private donors to secure the release of many of these non-violent offenders. He outlined ongoing structural reforms prioritizing rehabilitation over punishment, which include digital case tracking to prevent indefinite detention, vocational training programs within correctional centers, and public-private partnerships aimed at improving living conditions and operational efficiency. “A correctional facility must correct, not condemn,” he asserted. “Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise.”

Praise from Access Holdings Chairman

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings PLC, lauded the Minister's clear vision and decisive leadership. “What Dr. Tunji-Ojo has demonstrated is that innovation is not about big budgets, it is about big thinking,” Aig-Imoukhuede said. “His approach to public service reflects the same DNA of impact and excellence that defines Access Group.”

Aig-Imoukhuede noted that the Guest Lecture Series is designed to foster deeper conversations around leadership, accountability, and service. “We cannot build the Nigeria we want without leaders who understand systems, value people, and are committed to sustainable change. Today’s conversation has shown us what that looks like in action.”

The event drew a diverse audience of executives, policymakers, and thought leaders from across the country, reinforcing Access Bank’s standing not only as a financial powerhouse but also as a vital platform for national transformation through dialogue, vision, and collaboration.

In his concluding remarks, Minister Tunji-Ojo encouraged participants to adopt a personal philosophy of excellence and purpose. “Let Access Bank not just be a financial institution, let it be a philosophy,” he urged. “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.”