By Olusegun Obisanya
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, has outlined a sweeping vision for innovation-driven governance, ethical leadership, and urgent reform in the country’s correctional system. Also, he delivered a compelling charge to public and private sector leaders.
He spoke while delivering his keynote address at the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series (GLS) held on Friday at the Bank’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Themed “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate,” Tunji-Ojo noted leadership must be proactive, identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before they become crises.
Credited in a statement, he said, “Leadership is not about reacting to problems, it is about foreseeing and solving them before they occur, 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 showcased the transformation underway at the Ministry of Interior since he took office, including the clearance of a backlog of over 200,000 unprocessed passport applications and the elimination of ₦28 billion in legacy debt. These achievements, he noted, were realised without additional financial aid from the federal government. Instead, the Ministry deployed a strategy built on system integration, technology innovation, and financial self-sufficiency. Among the innovations highlighted were 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 centre to support round-the-clock immigration services.
The Minister spoke passionately about the broken state of Nigeria’s correctional system, revealing that over 4,000 inmates were being held in custodial centres nationwide 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. A society that punishes poverty more harshly than crime has lost its moral compass,” he stated
Tunji-Ojo explained that the Ministry has since partnered with private donors to secure the release of many of these non-violent offenders and is now pursuing structural reforms that prioritise rehabilitation over punishment. These, according to him, include digital case tracking to prevent indefinite detention, vocational training programmes within correctional centres, and public-private partnerships aimed at improving living conditions and operational efficiency. “A correctional facility must correct, not condemn. Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise.”
Chairman, Access Holdings Plc, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, who applauded the minister’s clarity of vision and decisive leadership posited, “What Dr. Tunji-Ojo has demonstrated is that innovation is not about big budgets, it is about big thinking. His approach to public service reflects the same DNA of impact and excellence that defines Access Group.”
The chairman noted that the GLS was designed to deepen the conversation 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,” he added.
The event brought together executives, policymakers, and thought leaders from across the country, reinforcing Access Bank’s role as not only a financial powerhouse but also a platform for national transformation through dialogue, vision, and collaboration.
The Minister encouraged participants to embrace a personal philosophy of excellence and purpose when he said, “Let Access Bank not just be a financial institution, let it be a philosophy. 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.”
About Access Bank PLC
Access Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Access Holdings Plc, is a leading full-service commercial bank operating through a network of more than 700 branches and service outlets spanning 3 continents, 24 countries and over 60 million customers. The Bank employs over 28,000 people in its operations in Africa and Europe, with representative offices in China, Lebanon, India, and the UAE.
Access Bank’s parent company, Access Holdings Plc, has been listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange since 1998. The Bank is a diversified financial institution which combines a strong retail customer franchise and digital platform with deep corporate banking expertise, proven risk management and capital management capabilities. The Bank services its various markets through three key business segments: Corporate and Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, and Retail Banking. The Bank has enjoyed what is arguably Africa’s most successful banking growth trajectory in the last 20 years, becoming one of the continent’s largest retail banks.
As part of its continued growth strategy, Access Bank is focused on mainstreaming sustainable business practices into its operations. The Bank strives to deliver sustainable economic growth that is profitable, environmentally responsible, and socially relevant, helping customers to access more and achieve their dreams.
