Lagos, Nigeria – May 26, 2025 — Hon. Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, delivered a powerful address to leaders in the public and private sectors at the Access Bank Guest Lecture Series (GLS), held at the Bank’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking on the theme “Dare to Dream, Dare to Innovate,” Dr. Tunji-Ojo drew from his background as an ethical hacker to advocate for proactive leadership, system-driven innovation, and urgent reform across government institutions.

“Leadership is not about reacting to problems—it is about foreseeing and solving them before they occur,” he said. “To lead, you must always ask: What is your purpose? How will you execute it? And when is the right time to act?”

Highlighting successes under his tenure, Dr. Tunji-Ojo pointed to the clearance of a backlog of over 200,000 passport applications and the elimination of ₦28 billion in legacy debt—all achieved without additional federal funding. These milestones, he said, were driven by strategic system integration, technology deployment, and financial self-reliance.

Key innovations include:

Introduction of e-visa platforms

Contactless passport renewal for Nigerians in the diaspora

Advanced passenger information systems

Commissioning of a Tier-4 data centre for 24/7 immigration services

The Minister also addressed the nation’s ailing correctional system, revealing that over 4,000 inmates are being held in custodial centres simply for being unable to pay fines as low as ₦50,000.

“This is not a legal crisis—it is a moral one,” he declared. “A society that punishes poverty more harshly than crime has lost its moral compass.”

To address this, the Ministry has partnered with private donors to secure the release of many non-violent offenders and is implementing structural reforms, including:

Digital case tracking to prevent indefinite detention

Vocational training for inmates

Public-private partnerships to improve correctional facilities

“A correctional facility must correct, not condemn,” he stated. “Justice without dignity is injustice in disguise.”

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings PLC, praised Dr. Tunji-Ojo’s forward-thinking leadership:

“What Dr. Tunji-Ojo has demonstrated is that innovation is not about big budgets—it is about big thinking. His approach reflects the same DNA of impact and excellence that defines the Access Group.”

He reaffirmed the purpose of the Guest Lecture Series as a platform to promote dialogue on leadership, accountability, and national development.

“We cannot build the Nigeria we want without leaders who understand systems, value people, and commit to sustainable change,” he added.

The event convened top executives, policymakers, and thought leaders from across the country, reinforcing Access Bank’s role as a catalyst for national transformation.

In closing, Dr. Tunji-Ojo urged participants to live with purpose and strive for excellence:

“Let Access Bank not just be a financial institution, but a philosophy. Let Nigeria not just be a country of potential, but a nation of performance. It is time to refine our genius, not just export