•Academy has bridged gap between youth aspirations and leadership, says Sanwo-Olu
The Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA) at the weekend held its graduation for the 2024/2025 cohorts and an induction ceremony for new Fellows, marking another milestone in the institution’s drive to raise transformational leaders for Lagos State and Nigeria at large
Thirty Fellows of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, class of 2024/2025, graduated after one year of fully funded residential training, by the Lagos State Government. The ceremony also culminated in the induction of 30 new fellows for 2025/2026, ushering in a new set of future leaders tasked with carrying forward the vision and values of the Academy.
Speaking during the ceremony held on Friday evening at Ikeja, Lagos Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the purpose of the Academy is to bridge the gap between youth aspirations and leadership.
He charged the graduating Fellows of the Academy, which is named after the late first civilian Governor of the State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, to be agents of change who embody character, conviction, and service to the greater good.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who commended the resilience of the fellows, described the Academy as a testament to excellence and affirmation of the collective belief that leadership is not by accident but a product of vision, preparation and character.
He also expressed his administration’s commitment towards making the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy the best in the world by deepening its impact, building leaders that embrace responsibilities and produce those who lead with intent.
Governor Sanwo-Olu during the ceremony unveiled a book written by the graduating fellows tagged Torchbearers.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Mrs Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, noted that so far 60 fellows have passed through the Academy, with more than 85 per cent of them serving in leadership roles across various sectors and driving positive change in the society.
Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, who commended the visionary leadership of Governor Sanwo-Olu, maintained that the mandate of the Academy is to institutionalise principled public leadership. She called for more collaboration with the government and the private sector to deepen impact and opportunities and prepare future generations of leaders.
She said the graduation ceremony was a passage of leadership from one generation to the next, which was not defined by virtue but by consistency, adding that the Academy had fostered social changes and principled public leadership of impact, among other initiatives, for the benefit of Nigerians.
Also speaking, the Chairperson of the Alumni Advisory Council of the Academy, Adepeju Balogun, noted that the council has expanded its reach by mentoring 200 youths, producing an alumni constitution in June 2025, and advancing sustainability initiatives designed to yield lasting benefits for Lagos State.
She said the Academy has grown into a beacon of excellence under Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration, producing fellows and alumni who are doing well in different leadership positions across the country.
In their goodwill message, mentors at the event, while congratulating the graduates and newly inducted fellows, said the Academy would continue to shape their journey as they would find their place in the society. They urged them to remain impactful wherever they found themselves.
The event featured special recognitions, with Seyi Ugo winning the All-rounder Award and the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, honoured as the Most Supportive Personality.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
SPECIAL ADVISER – MEDIA AND PUBLICITY