The Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA) has graduated 30 Fellows of its 2025/2026 cohort and inducted another 31 into the 2026/2027 Fellowship programme, marking another significant milestone in the Academy’s mission to develop values-driven, future-ready leaders.
The ceremony, held in Lagos, brought together the Lagos State Government leadership, public servants, business and professional leaders, mentors, partners, families and members of the Academy community to celebrate the graduating Fellows and welcome the new cohort. The occasion reflected the growing institutional significance of the Fellowship and its role in building a sustained pipeline of emerging leaders equipped to contribute across sectors.
For the graduating Fellows, the ceremony marked the culmination of a year of practical leadership development, exposure and service. Through engagements with experienced leaders, placements within Ministries, Departments and Agencies, mentorship, policy conversations and capstone projects, the Fellows gained deeper insight into governance and the responsibilities that come with leadership.
The Executive Secretary of LJLA, Mrs. Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, urged the graduating Fellows to carry one question with them beyond the Academy: “What changes because of you?” She challenged them to measure leadership by its evidence and impact, asking what became better because of their presence, whose opportunities expanded through their actions and whether the institutions and communities they encounter are stronger because of their contribution.
The ceremony also highlighted the Academy’s evolution into an enduring leadership institution. The Executive Secretary noted the legal institutionalisation of LJLA and the introduction of the LJLA Excellence Pathway, which creates a structured link between the Fellowship and the Lagos State Civil Service, providing eligible Fellows with opportunities for accelerated placement and serving civil servants with a pathway for accelerated progression under the approved framework.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, congratulated the graduating Fellows and urged them to translate the knowledge and experience gained at the Academy into meaningful contributions wherever they find themselves. The Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Chairman of the Lagos State Civil Service Commission and Mr. Hakeem Belo-Osagie also joined other dignitaries in reinforcing the importance of developing capable, responsible and service-oriented leaders.
As the 2025/2026 cohort begins its next chapter as LJLA alumni, the 2026/2027 Fellows now take up the opportunity and responsibility of beginning their own Fellowship journey. With the support of mentors, facilitators, partners and families, the Academy continues to strengthen a leadership pipeline designed to ensure that each cohort leaves with greater capacity to serve, contribute and create measurable impact.
