Sanwo-Olu, Sirleaf advocate strong institutions, youth inclusion at Lagos summit
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for stronger institutions, inclusive leadership and expanded opportunities for young people as critical drivers of Africa’s development. He spoke at the Lagos Leadership
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for stronger institutions, inclusive leadership and expanded opportunities for young people as critical drivers of Africa’s development.
He spoke at the Lagos Leadership Summit 2026 organised by the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, where policymakers, development partners and emerging leaders examined pathways to sustainable governance across the continent.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said sponsorship remains the most decisive factor in unlocking youth potential, stressing that mentorship and access alone are insufficient.
“Mentorship builds capacity. Sponsorship creates opportunities. Access gives you exposure,” he said, noting that while the three are interconnected, only sponsorship provides a platform for real impact.
The governor observed that many young Nigerians possess education and skills but lack opportunities to apply them, a gap he said continues to limit productivity across sectors.
He clarified that sponsorship should not be mistaken for patronage, but rather institutional backing that enables individuals to translate knowledge into measurable outcomes.
“What makes you is how you prove yourself after being sponsored,” he added.
In her keynote address, Former Liberian President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, emphasised the importance of institution-building, warning that governance driven by personalities rather than systems cannot deliver lasting development.
“Systems that outlive us are not built by the force of personality alone, but by those who relinquish power deliberately,” she said.
Drawing from her experience leading Liberia after years of civil conflict, she highlighted the role of accountability, transparency and rule of law in rebuilding trust and stabilising the economy.
“The strength and quality of governance define a presidency, but strength alone does not deliver change. Leadership does,” she added.
Sirleaf also advocated increased inclusion of women in leadership, describing it as Africa’s most underutilised resource.
“One woman reaching the pinnacle of power does not constitute a system. Symbolism without structural change is just symbolism,” she said.
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She warned that excluding women from decision-making weakens governance outcomes, adding that inclusive participation is essential for sustainable progress.
“When half of your population is excluded from decision-making, you are governing with one hand tied behind your back,” she said.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the academy, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, urged participants to prioritise system-building, noting that leadership should be measured by its ability to create structures that endure.
“In a state like Lagos, leadership is measured by what it builds, what it sustains, and what continues to function in its absence,” she said.
She challenged young leaders to move beyond occupying positions to making meaningful impact, stressing that sustainable development depends on strong, functional systems.
“A system ensures that something works not once, but repeatedly because something reliable has been built,” she added.
Agbaje-Okunade further encouraged participants to see themselves as active contributors within existing structures, rather than passive observers waiting for opportunities.
“You are already within the system. The question is whether you are engaging it with intention or simply reacting to it,” she said.
