Public officials visiting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have been urged to approach such engagements as opportunities for strategic learning rather than routine or ceremonial interactions, according to Convener of BAT Ideological Group, Bamidele Atoyebi.

Atoyebi argued that visits to the Presidential Villa should not be reduced to “a mere social outing or a vacation in a five-star park,” but instead treated as moments for “intense, purposeful learning.” He criticized what he described as a growing culture among some political office holders of using such visits for personal prestige, including boasting about proximity to the President.

“A visit to the President… must give way to a more serious, intellectual engagement,” he wrote, emphasizing that governors, ministers, and senior officials should prioritise acquiring political knowledge during such encounters.

Atoyebi described Tinubu as a “great strategist” whose interactions should be approached as opportunities to gain insight into high-level governance and political maneuvering. He advised officials to prepare substantive questions and even take notes during meetings to maximise the value of the experience.

“Do you want my money, or do you want to pick from my brain?” Atoyebi quoted Tinubu as once asking an individual who had sought financial assistance.

According to the account, the individual chose mentorship over immediate financial aid and was subsequently connected to a £100,000 grant alongside strategic guidance that led to a successful business.

The commentary also cited an anecdote involving Tinubu’s time as governor of Lagos State, where he reportedly rebuked commissioners for giving small cash tips to domestic staff, insisting instead on empowerment over handouts. The situation, Atoyebi noted, quickly shifted, with larger sums being given after the intervention — an example he used to illustrate leadership standards and expectations.

Drawing parallels beyond politics, Atoyebi referenced David Oyedepo and his leadership model at Canaanland, where visiting pastors are said to treat trips as opportunities for mentorship and impartation rather than routine engagements. He suggested that political leaders should adopt a similar mindset when interacting with the President.

He further pointed to the influence of Tinubu’s political philosophy on support groups such as the BAT Ideological Group, noting that followers can replicate leadership success by studying and applying his methods, even without direct access.

In a cultural analogy, Atoyebi referenced music icon Wasiu Ayinde, likening Tinubu’s knowledge to an “inexhaustible river,” echoing a lyric that portrays Lagos as a place of endless opportunity.

“A meeting with the President is like a small window through which a Mount Kilimanjaro-sized volume of knowledge can pass in a very short time,” Atoyebi wrote, urging public servants to take full advantage of such moments.

He concluded that sustained political success and legacy-building depend on a willingness to learn, adapt, and internalise strategic knowledge at every opportunity.