Sanwo-Olu urges young leaders to shape Lagos’ future

By Adeola Ogunrinde

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged young leaders to apply the knowledge and experience gained at the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy to drive positive change and strengthen leadership in Nigeria.

Sanwo-Olu gave the charge on Friday in Ikeja during the graduation of the academy’s 2025/2026 cohort and the induction of the 2026/2027 cohort. He urged the fellows to see the programme not as the end of their training but as the beginning of their responsibility to society.

At the ceremony, 30 fellows of the 2024/2025 cohort, known as the “Class of Catalysts,” received certificates of completion, while another 30 fellows were inducted into the new fellowship year. Sanwo-Olu was also honoured with an award for his contribution to leadership development.

The governor said the academy was established to bridge the gap between the aspirations of young Nigerians and the realities of leadership in the public sector. He added that it was named after the late former Lagos State Governor, Lateef Jakande, whose leadership, he said, demonstrated that the true measure of public service was the lives transformed and institutions built.

Sanwo-Olu said his administration was committed to ensuring that the academy outlived his tenure and remained a permanent asset of Lagos State. According to him, the institution was being developed as a sustainable leadership programme rather than one dependent on the personality or budget priorities of any administration.

He challenged the graduating fellows to put the lessons learned during the fellowship into practice, particularly when confronted with difficult situations in their professional careers. He said the academy received more than 16,000 applications for the new cohorts, describing the high level of interest as a reflection of young Nigerians’ confidence in the programme.

The governor also urged the new fellows to embrace challenges, collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds and contribute meaningfully even when they are the least experienced in a room. He said such qualities were essential for effective leadership and sustainable development.

Sanwo-Olu urged the fellows to use their skills, networks and experiences to influence their communities and contribute to Lagos’ development. He expressed confidence that the academy would continue to produce young leaders capable of shaping the state’s future and contributing to national development.