Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called on leaders across public and private sectors to embrace purpose-driven and innovation-led leadership as the catalyst for national transformation. Speaking at the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series (GLS) held on Friday at the bank’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, the Minister delivered a powerful keynote themed “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate.”
Drawing parallels between leadership and his background in ethical hacking, Tunji-Ojo said effective leadership must be proactive and solutions-oriented. “Leadership is not about reacting to problems; it is about foreseeing and solving them before they occur,” he stated. “And for that, you must always ask: What is your purpose? How will you execute it? And when is the right time to act?”
He highlighted major reforms at the Ministry of Interior under his leadership, including the clearance of over 200,000 passport backlogs and the elimination of N28 billion in legacy debt—all achieved without additional funding from the federal government. He credited these successes to strategic system integration, digital innovation, and operational discipline.
Among the reforms he showcased were the introduction of e-visa platforms, contactless passport renewal for Nigerians in the diaspora, a new passenger information system, and the launch of a Tier-4 data centre designed to ensure 24/7 immigration service delivery.
The Minister also spotlighted what he described as a moral crisis in the country’s correctional system. Over 4,000 inmates, he said, are languishing in custodial centres for their inability to pay minor fines—some as low as ₦50,000. “This is not a legal crisis, it is a moral one,” he said. “A society that punishes poverty more harshly than crime has lost its moral compass.”
Tunji-Ojo revealed that the Ministry has secured private sector support to pay fines and release non-violent offenders, and is pushing reforms focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment. He outlined ongoing efforts, including vocational training for inmates, digital case tracking, and public-private partnerships to improve facilities and administration. “A correctional facility must correct, not condemn,” he added. “Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise.”
Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, who hosted the Minister, praised Tunji-Ojo for his results-driven approach to public service. “What Dr. Tunji-Ojo has demonstrated is that innovation is not about big budgets, it is about big thinking,” he said, adding that the Minister’s leadership philosophy aligns with Access Bank’s ethos of impact and excellence.
He noted that the Guest Lecture Series was created to foster dialogue on leadership, service, and national development. “We cannot build the Nigeria we want without leaders who understand systems, value people, and are committed to sustainable change,” Aig-Imoukhuede remarked.
The event drew key players from government, business, and civil society, reinforcing Access Bank’s growing role as a platform for thought leadership and national renewal.
In his parting message, Tunji-Ojo challenged attendees to adopt a mindset of excellence. “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.”