Ladigbolu Calls for Yoruba Ethical Renaissance to Rebuild Nigeria

By Nehru Odeh

Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu has said Nigeria’s numerous crises are deeply rooted in what he described as “ethical dislocation”, arguing that the country’s renewal requires a fundamental rethinking of its values.

Ladigbolu made this known on Friday, August 28, 2026, while delivering a lecture titled “Yoruba Ethical Renaissance: A Way to Reinvent Our National Values and Rebuild the Nigeria of Our Dreams” at the Chief R.F. Fasoranti Centennial Birthday Lecture held at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

The lecture was part of activities marking the 100th birthday of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, elder statesman and leader of Afenifere. The event was organised with the theme, “A Century of Courage and Stewardship of Yoruba Democratic Legacy”.

Ladigbolu said ethical renewal was not an optional addition to Nigeria’s development agenda but its foundation. “In conclusion, Nigeria’s crises are deeply rooted in ethical dislocation. Addressing them requires more than institutional reform. It demands a fundamental rethinking of values,” he said.

He argued that a Yoruba ethical renaissance could provide a framework for rebuilding Nigeria by restoring values centred on character, truth, integrity and harmonious relationships.

“A Yoruba ethical renaissance offers a compelling framework for this transformation, which will drive righteousness, which exalts a nation, and put away sin, which to any people is a reproach,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria could move towards a more just, cohesive and prosperous society by prioritising character, fostering relational harmony and promoting truth.

At the centre of Ladigbolu’s lecture was the Yoruba concept of “iwa”, which he described as encompassing character, moral disposition and the essence of being. He said Yoruba philosophy traditionally places greater value on the quality of a person’s character than on wealth, social status or political power.

“At the heart of Yoruba ethics lies the concept of Iwa, which encompasses character, moral disposition and the very essence of being,” he said. “In Yoruba thought, a person’s true worth is determined not by wealth, status or power, but by the quality of their character.” He cited the Yoruba expression “iwa l’ewa” — character is beauty — as a concise representation of the ethical philosophy.

Ladigbolu said the principle emphasises virtues such as honesty, integrity and respect for others, adding that the traditional Yoruba ethical system places character above material achievement and personal advancement.

He said this philosophy offered an important counter-narrative at a time when society increasingly celebrates material success without sufficiently considering its ethical foundation.

According to him, the renewed emphasis on “iwa rere”, or good character, could challenge the normalisation of corruption and redefine success around integrity and moral responsibility.

Ladigbolu also linked the values he advocated to the legacy of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and other pro-democracy and nationalist figures whose lives, he said, demonstrated courage, sacrifice and stewardship. He said the celebration of Fasoranti at 100 was also an opportunity to honour the generation of leaders and activists whose sacrifices helped protect Nigeria’s democratic tradition.

Referring to Awolowo, Ladigbolu said: “History offers us hidden explanations for Awo’s greatness and impressive, imperishable legacy. Simply put, Awo endured because he had character.”

He argued that character enabled a leader to see beyond immediate circumstances and make sacrifices in pursuit of a greater cause.

“It is character that makes a leader see into the future, and the opportunities encased in his womb, when his rivals and contemporaries see only the experiences of today,” he said, adding that character could give a leader the courage to sacrifice personal interests, family and even life for a just and noble cause.

According to him, Awolowo’s life and leadership demonstrated two important lessons: that without character a leader would struggle to develop the vision necessary to build society, and that every aspiring leader would eventually encounter a defining moment.

“How he responds to that moment will define him, define his leadership and his place or otherwise in history,” he said.

Ladigbolu described Fasoranti as a model of excellent character and said publicly celebrating him had implications for contemporary society.

He said Fasoranti’s life represented the kind of leadership Nigeria needed at a time when public life was increasingly associated with materialism and declining ethical standards.

Before turning fully to the question of ethics and nation-building, Ladigbolu paid tribute to past Yoruba leaders and pro-democracy activists whose sacrifices, he said, helped preserve Nigeria’s democratic legacy.

He referenced books including “This House of Oduduwa Must Not Fall”, “This Is Nigeria”, “Running for Dear Life, My Walk in Exile” and “Guided by His Hand”, using accounts from the works to illustrate the courage and sacrifices of past leaders.

He particularly recalled the struggles of NADECO activists during the military dictatorship of the late General Sani Abacha. Ladigbolu said many of the activists endured detention, exile and threats to their lives in their determination to restore democracy and the rule of law.

He also recalled an account of the detention of pro-democracy activists, saying some of those detained were threatened with execution. He said the courage of those who stood against military rule should remain an important part of Nigeria’s democratic history.

“Our gathering today is to appreciate and celebrate those noble stewards of our democratic legacy, the pro-democracy stalwarts and resilient … of our agitations, whose incalculable sacrifices and untainted patriotism protected democracy and the rule of law,” he said. He commended NADECO, both in Nigeria and abroad, for its role in the struggle.

Ladigbolu said a Yoruba ethical renaissance should not be treated merely as a return to the past but as the recovery, reinterpretation and application of indigenous ethical principles to contemporary Nigerian society.

“The Yoruba ethical renaissance involved the recovery and reinterpretation and application of indigenous ethical principles in contemporary context,” he said.

He argued that concepts such as good character, truth, relational harmony and communal responsibility remained relevant to a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country like Nigeria. He said such values could help foster social cohesion, promote dialogue and encourage a shared commitment to the common good. He also emphasised the importance of truth, as another important element of the ethical renewal Nigeria requires.

The second lecture was delivered by Prof. Ropo Sekoni, who reflected on Yoruba civilisation, longevity and the region’s historical head start in addressing social challenges. Sekoni described the Yoruba region as having characteristics associated with a “Blue Zone”, referring to communities around the world where people are noted for longevity. He said the presence of people who have lived beyond 100 years was one of the features that deserved recognition in discussions about Yoruba civilisation.

He also stressed the importance of understanding the historical foundations of Yoruba society without falling into what he described as Yoruba exceptionalism. Sekoni’s presentation formed part of the broader reflection on Yoruba identity, democratic legacy and the values required to sustain the region’s contribution to Nigeria’s development.

Former Ogun State governor and veteran journalist, Chief Olusegun Osoba, chaired the occasion. In his remarks, Osoba urged state governors to make effective use of increased federal allocations to improve the welfare of Nigerians.

He noted that state allocations had increased under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and called on governors to ensure that the additional resources translated into tangible benefits for citizens.

The event brought together prominent Yoruba leaders, traditional rulers, politicians, academics, religious leaders and representatives of Afenifere from across the country.

Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, who represented the President at the occasion, said Fasoranti’s contributions extended beyond the Yoruba race and remained significant to Nigeria’s democratic history.Gbajabiamila said the President appreciated Fasoranti for his advice and contributions to democracy.

“Pa Fasoranti is a foremost Yoruba leader. But I must say that Pa Fasoranti’s impact is bigger than the Yoruba race. His name cannot be erased from the history of democracy in Nigeria,” he said, adddin tatHe said the President had asked him to convey his appreciation to Fasoranti for his counsel and contributions to the country’s democratic development.

The event was organised by Afenifere to celebrate Fasoranti’s centenary wit the theme, “A Century of Courage and Stewardship of Yoruba Democratic Legacy”.

President Tinubu was listed as the Distinguished Guest of Honour, while the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, was named Royal Father of the Day.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was among the dignitaries who attended the occasion, alongside former governors Kayode Fayemi and Olusegun Mimiko, Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and other prominent Yoruba leaders.

For Ladigbolu, however, the central message of the centenary celebration went beyond honouring an individual. It was a call for Nigeria to rediscover the values that shaped some of its most respected leaders and apply those values to the challenges of the present.

“Ethical renewal is not an optional add-on to development. It is its very foundation,” Ladigbolu said, and .The task of rebuilding Nigeria through ethical renewal was difficult but necessary and urgent.