Jakande: Leaders urged to adopt people-centred governance as family, associates recall legacy
Lagos State has urged present and future leaders to embrace purposeful, people-centred governance, drawing inspiration from the late former governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, whose policies transformed
Lagos State has urged present and future leaders to embrace purposeful, people-centred governance, drawing inspiration from the late former governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, whose policies transformed lives and laid a lasting foundation for development.
Speaking at the Fidau prayer to mark the fifth anniversary of Jakande’s death, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr. Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said Jakande demonstrated that government remains a powerful tool for improving the daily lives of citizens when driven by sincerity, fairness and long-term vision.
He described the late statesman as a visionary whose leadership was rooted in genuine service to the people rather than power or personal gain.
According to him, Jakande’s administration expanded access to free education, built mass housing, strengthened public health and water supply systems, improved transportation and promoted social stability, thereby restoring dignity and creating opportunities for thousands of families across Lagos.
Layode said, “Jakande showed that leadership is a sacred trust. Governance must prioritise meaningful impact over popularity, service over self-interest and the long-term welfare of the people above all else. His life remains a standard leaders must strive to uphold.”
Earlier, a Senior Lecturer at Lagos State University (LASU), Dr. Sayeed Timeyin, said the true measure of life is the legacy one leaves behind, not material wealth.
Quoting from the Qur’an, he noted that while death is inevitable, what matters most is how a person is remembered.
Advertisement
300x250
“Death is not the problem. The real issue is your legacy. When your bank accounts are closed and monuments fade, what will you be remembered for? Legacy speaks in lives touched and impact made,” he said.
Timeyin described Jakande as a phenomenon whose contributions to journalism and education reshaped Nigeria, noting that his achievements in just four years and three months as governor remain unmatched decades later.
He added that many Nigerians who attended public schools between 1979 and 1984 benefited from Jakande’s free education reforms, which produced scholars and professionals across the country.
Also speaking, Jakande’s wife, Alhaja Abimbola Sikirat Jakande, described him as a selfless leader who devoted his life to the welfare of the poor and ordinary people.
“What I remember most about him was his life for the poor masses.
He lived for everybody,” she said, recalling how their home was always open to people seeking help, advice and support.
Former Senator and Chairman of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Board, Adedayo Adeyeye, described Jakande as a man of action and uncommon selflessness, noting that his commitment to public service set him apart.
According to him, successive governments in Lagos have continued to build on Jakande’s foundation, stressing that leaders today must imbibe his spirit of sacrifice and dedication to the people.
Advertisement
300x250
Son of the late statesman and Chairman-elect of Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, Seyi Jakande, said his father’s legacy of consistency, discipline and selfless service continues to guide his approach to public service.
Read Also: President, Adelabu hail NRS Chair Zacch Adedeji, on 48th birthday
He said: “Public service must be about delivering the greatest good for the greatest number. My father showed that governance is about selfless service, and that is what is missing in today’s leadership.”
First son of the late former governor, Mr. Deji Jakande, said the family continues to draw strength from the enduring respect people show towards their father, describing him as a humble leader whose integrity and simplicity defined his life.
According to him, the family does not remember the late statesman only during anniversaries but every day, as his values and teachings remain part of their lives.
Advertisement
300x250
“As a family, we do not remember him once a year; we remember him every day.
He continues to live on through the values he taught us and the life he lived,” he said.
Deji described his father as a humble and disciplined leader who taught his children the importance of respect, simplicity and integrity, recalling how the former governor remained modest despite his status.
He noted that the legacy left behind by Jakande serves both as an inspiration and a challenge for the family, especially those in public service.
“His shoes are very big shoes and difficult to fill. But it is also a motivation for us to continue to do our best and uphold the name and values he represented,” he said.
Prayers were offered for the repose of Jakande’s soul, while participants called on leaders at all levels to emulate his legacy of service, integrity and people-focused governance.
