Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reiterated the need for leaders to invest more in quality education, emphasizing that such efforts are key to building lasting systems and legacies.
Speaking at the second edition of the Lagos Leadership Summit organized by the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, the governor said meaningful transformation requires long-term thinking, especially in the area of education.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to transformative leadership. To build a system that works, leaders must invest early in quality education, define the purpose behind their work, and commit fully. That is how we create legacies and systems that thrive beyond our presence,” Sanwo-Olu said.
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The event, themed “Transformative Leadership: Developing Responsive, Adaptive and Inclusive Models,” brought together notable speakers who stressed the importance of inclusive governance, youth engagement, and cultural representation in leadership.
Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, highlighted the need for true inclusion, warning against leadership built around similarity in background.
“If the people who work with us and for us are from the same culture, religion, or gender, then we are prejudiced. Inclusion is a mindset. It only becomes real when people can see tangible efforts that make them feel seen, heard, and involved,” Fashola stated.
The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse, also weighed in on the role of youth in national development.
“Nation-building cannot happen in isolation from our cultural truths. The vibrancy of the youth is essential in accelerating the progress of society. Leadership is a Relay Race; the baton must be passed to the younger generation,” the monarch said.
Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, added that Nigeria must continually examine its leadership values and practices to foster a more functional society.
“We cannot afford to glamorise leadership without grounding it in values and structure. We need a new generation of responsive leaders, who build, who solve, who care. If we curb the erosion of values and embed integrity into every layer of society, we can rebuild our nation from the inside out,” he said.
Other speakers, including Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, Fela Durotoye, and Debola Deji-Kurunmi, underscored the importance of nurturing visionary youth leaders who are prepared to take on the demands of the future.
The summit served as a platform for thought leaders to promote ethical, inclusive, and innovative models of leadership tailored to Nigeria’s evolving needs.
