By Ayomide Otitoju
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called for collaboration between the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and fellows of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA) to explore solutions to waste management challenges in the state.
Sanwo-Olu made the call on Wednesday during a mentorship session with the academy’s third cohort, the Class of Catalysts, following a presentation by the fellows on waste and risk management.
The governor directed that the fellows meet with LAWMA management to present their findings, defend their recommendations and engage directly with officials responsible for waste management in Lagos.
He said the engagement was in line with his vision for the leadership academy as a platform where young people could use research and innovative ideas to challenge government while creating opportunities for government to listen and respond.
Sanwo-Olu also commended the fellows for their capstone projects, including proposals for a library and ICT centre, which he described as initiatives capable of delivering measurable and lasting impact.
He urged the fellows to sustain their relationships after completing the programme, stressing that a strong alumni network could provide ideas, knowledge and support for future initiatives.
Reflecting on the fellows’ recent policy trip to Rwanda, the governor encouraged them to study successful models from other countries and identify approaches that could be adapted to improve governance in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu also stressed the importance of consistency in government policies, saying investors require clarity and predictability before committing resources.
“People want clarity. People want definitive pronouncements. No matter how tough that pronouncement, they want you to be consistent with it so that they can plan,” he said.
The governor further advised the fellows to remain open to learning, listen before responding and learn from their mistakes, describing the ability to turn failures into lessons as an important leadership quality.
The Executive Secretary of LJLA, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, said the current cohort was the third since the academy was established, bringing the total number of young people who have participated in the programme to about 90.
She said graduation should be seen as the beginning of a new phase of leadership responsibility rather than the end of the fellows’ journey.
According to her, the fellows had received both theoretical and practical leadership training through readings, mentorship sessions, fireside chats and opportunities to shadow commissioners and heads of ministries, departments and agencies.
Agbaje-Okunade said the academy was established to develop young people capable of making meaningful contributions to society.
“When they enter the fellowship, they don’t know the sort of leader they want to be. But they know the sort of leader they do not want to be,” she said.
She added that the fellows were expected to continue demonstrating patriotism, responsibility and respect for the law after completing the programme.
“Our vision has always been to build a society transformed by the leadership of young people. So our transformation is very much dependent on them, even after they leave the fellowship,” she said.
Agbaje-Okunade said the academy had also expanded the fellows’ exposure through international engagements, including a recent policy trip to Kigali, Rwanda, where they interacted with government officials, mayors, district heads and communities.
She disclosed that discussions were ongoing to establish a memorandum of understanding with a Rwandan institution following the policy visit.
One of the fellows, Adepeju Salami, a Lagos State civil servant, described the fellowship as an important platform for young people to discover and develop their leadership potential.
Salami said the programme was particularly valuable to her as a public servant and should be sustained as an investment in preparing young Nigerians for leadership.
She added that the fellowship had helped participants discover qualities they did not previously realise they possessed through interactions with their peers and established leaders.
According to her, investing in young leaders could create a wider impact by benefiting not only the fellows but also their communities.
