Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat charge young leaders to shape future of Lagos

Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, Monday, charged young leaders to prepare themselves to take responsibility for the future of Lagos.

They stated that the sustainability of the state depends on the quality, character and competence of the next generation.

The duo gave the charge at the graduation and induction ceremony of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA) 2025/2026 fellowship cohort and the induction of the 2026/2027 cohort held at Balmoral Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu challenged them to look beyond their certificates and fellowship experience, urging them to see leadership as a lifelong responsibility to society.

He said the critical question facing Lagos was not merely who would win the next election, but who would be prepared to govern the state decades into the future.

“Who will run Lagos after us?” he asked, stressing the need for deliberate investment in a new generation of competent, responsible and visionary leaders.

He added that no city can sustain its development across generations without consciously preparing those who will inherit the responsibility of managing it.

Sanwo-Olu said his administration had, over the past seven years, invested heavily in infrastructure, including roads and rail, but noted that physical infrastructure alone could not guarantee the long-term success of Lagos.

He likened leadership to the cement used in constructing infrastructure, saying the durability of what is built ultimately depends on the quality of the people entrusted with managing it.