Ex-NBA president urges older leaders to mentor younger generationOlanipekun

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, has called on Nigeria’s leaders to deliberately mentor and prepare younger generations for positions of responsibility. Olanipekun made the call while accepting his induction as President of the Council of Chairmen and Grand Patron of HOC Capital Club at a ceremony held in Abuja on Tuesday. The legal luminary said leadership should be viewed as a continuous process of transferring knowledge, experience and opportunities from one generation to another. Using a football analogy, he described leadership as “passing the ball” to younger people and ensuring they are adequately equipped to succeed, adding that sustainable national development depends on effective leadership succession “We must intentionally guide the next generation through mentorship, strategic alignment and leadership development. Leadership is about passing the ball and ensuring those receiving it are prepared to move the nation forward,” he said. Olanipekun also likened nation-building to a relay race, where each generation has a responsibility to hand over the baton effectively to those coming behind. “Nation-building is a relay race. The older generation must carefully, timely and precisely pass the baton to the next generation so that the race can continue successfully,” he stated. According to him, platforms that encourage interaction between established leaders and emerging professionals are critical to the country’s future. Related News Barau urges varsities to commercialise research Substance abuse threatening Nigeria’s security — Mbah Lagos commission urges young leaders to drive governance reforms He said organisations such as HOC Capital Club can play an important role in creating opportunities for mentorship, leadership development and knowledge transfer. “HOC Capital Club provides an ideal platform for the transfer of knowledge, leadership and opportunity. We must continue to create environments where younger leaders can learn, grow and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he added. Olanipekun’s induction marked a major milestone for the club, which seeks to connect investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, industrialists and professionals while promoting economic collaboration and leadership development. Earlier, the Founder and Chairman of HOC Capital Club, Olufemi Badejo, described the induction as a defining moment in the organisation’s growth. “When we conceived HOC Capital Club, we envisioned more than a private members’ club. We envisioned a platform where global connectivity, economic c