A top African governance expert has urged Kenyan youth and Generation Z across the continent to stop idolising Western leadership models and instead cultivate authentic, ethical leadership rooted in African realities.
Kingsley Moghalu, President and Vice Chancellor of the Kigali-based African School of Governance (ASG), delivered the message during a high-level governance summit held in Nairobi on Friday. The summit, themed “Solving the Governance Conundrum in Africa: From Riddles to Roadmap,” brought together thought leaders and policymakers to chart a new course for the continent.
Moghalu criticised what he termed the “over-fetishisation” of Western leadership styles, calling it an aberration. “Africa’s problems won’t be solved by foreign blueprints they’ll be solved by African minds applying African solutions grounded in our values, experience, and context,” he stated.
A former Nigerian presidential candidate, Moghalu emphasised that Africa doesn’t need more leaders in suits mimicking Western models, but transformational leaders with integrity, vision, and courage. “Leadership is not about holding a title,” he said. “It’s about purpose.”
He highlighted the role of education in building such leaders, pointing to ASG’s Master’s in Public Administration, leadership fellowships, and training programmes designed to develop leaders who not only understand policy but also lead with moral clarity and a sense of responsibility.
As many African nations grapple with corruption and broken institutions, Moghalu acknowledged the disillusionment felt by youth but urged them to move beyond cynicism. “Corruption exists everywhere not just in Africa. The difference lies in accountability,” he said.
He called on young people to challenge corrupt systems, create social pressure, and demand reform. “If young people rise up against failed leadership, there will be consequences. Not immediately, but ripples become waves,” he noted.
In a cautionary note about social media influence, Moghalu reminded Gen Zs not to confuse online popularity with true leadership. “Ask yourself: is their influence building you or distracting you?”
ASG’s mission, he said, is to nurture a new generation of African leaders bold, ethical, and unmistakably grounded in African values.
