Our Priorities & Intervention Pillars

The National Leadership Organisation supports public sector leaders, capacity building institutions, and citizens to enhance their leadership capacity.

Whatever the role, wherever they fit, there are NLO initiatives to expand their capacity, amplify their influence and increase their impact.

We work closely with stakeholders in the public, private and third sectors to provide technical assistance, funding and sponsorships to promote, incentivise and encourage nationwide leadership and human capacity development.

We hinge our initiatives and interventions on four pillars fashioned to engender excellence in public leadership, high performance in capacity building institutions, generosity in society and growth in citizens.​ These pillars represent our areas of priority.

National Public Leadership Excellence

Today's public sector leaders face unprecedented challenges. Increasing global complexities overlayed by escalating local complexities, crises, fiscal constraints and political pressures call for leadership complexity. This pillar offers innovative, tried and tested tailored models designed to empower public sector leaders to lead with confidence, and attain effectiveness and success in an increasingly complex world.

National Capacity Builder Excellence

Who supports those tasked with the crucial responsibility of capacity building? Institutions in the capacity building sector need a robust support system to stay ahead of the curve. The NLO offers the essential technical support, inspiration, innovation and recognition that capacity-building organizations need to excel.

National Philanthropy Activation

Philanthropy plays a crucial role in mitigating inequality by mobilizing resources to fix gaps and meet needs. NLO is committed to building awareness, mustering support and participation in philanthropic activities for the holistic development of the nation. Through this pillar, we encourage a culture of giving and volunteerism, and empowering individuals and organizations to contribute meaningfully to positive change and societal well-being.

National Youth Development

Traditional approaches to youth development often fall short in addressing the unique challenges faced by young people. This pillar emphasizes innovative methods and interventions for youth engagement, education, empowerment, and leadership development, designed to elevate their aspirations and maximize their productivity.

National Empowerment

At the core of our philosophy, we believe that society is where leadership  begins. This pillar fosters effective leadership capacity development in society, following a bottom-up approach that looks beyond the nation’s leaders to the nation’s individuals, thus building the collective leadership capacity of the nation and providing skills and opportunities for growth.

Join the volunteer leadership force today

We work closely with the government, development partners and the private sector to provide technical assistance, funding and sponsorships to promote, incentivise and encourage nationwide leadership and human capacity development.

Explore our resources

“ I AM LEADER ” Pledge

The Leadership Dominoes

WE BELIEVE: A Manifesto

“ I AM A LEADER ”

Dr. Bolaji Olagunju

Director General

Dr. Bolaji Olagunju—author, advisor, coach, teacher, modeler—is a highly respected expert in leadership, team development, and personal and organizational effectiveness.

In 2004, Bolaji founded Workforce Group with a mission to enable and support high-performance businesses and high-commitment public organizations. His expertise and insights are sought after by both government institutions and private corporations.

Some of his most recent advisory engagements include the comprehensive redesign of a government agency, the implementation of large-scale capacity-building programs across public institutions, initiatives to enhance organizational effectiveness, and targeted leadership performance interventions.

Currently serving as Director-General of the National Leadership Organization, Dr. Olagunju is dedicated to building a nation of high-performing leaders. He is also on the board of several organizations, contributing significantly to their growth and performance.

Dr. Olagunju is a prolific creator of capacity-building and organizational development methodologies and solutions. He is also the author of several bestselling books and insightful publications that offer practical guidance and valuable lessons, including Hiring Right; You Must Become a Trainer; and Own, Don’t Owe Your Future.