Lagos Leadership Summit: Sanwo-Olu, Olu of Warri urge young leaders to shape Nigeria’s future

L-R: HRM Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal CON Abisogun II, Oniru of Iruland; His Highness Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, The Emir of Zazzau; HM Ogiame Atuwatse III CFR, The Olu of Warri at the Royal Roundtable discussion on day 1 of the Lagos Leadership Summit 2025 hosted by the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy in Lagos, Nigeria.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, alongside other prominent leaders, have called on young Nigerians to take an active role in shaping the country’s future.

Speaking at the Lagos Leadership Summit, they emphasized the crucial importance of youth participation in nation-building initiatives.

Anchored on the central theme “Transformative Leadership: Developing responsive, adaptive and inclusive models,” the gathering sparked impactful conversations through masterclasses, keynote speeches, fireside chats, and panel discussions. Key topics for the day included building leadership systems that outlast individual tenures, promoting inclusive governance, breaking gender barriers in leadership, and bridging generational gaps by merging tradition with youth innovation. Each session echoed a common message—the need for ethical, people-centered leadership that responds to today’s realities while shaping a more inclusive and resilient future.

During his fireside chat, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu called for vision-driven governance and long-term thinking.”There is no one-size-fits-all approach to transformative leadership,” he said. “To build a system that works, leaders must invest early in quality education, define the purpose behind their work, and commit fully. That’s how we create legacies and systems that thrive beyond our presence.”

Buttressing the importance of inclusion in leadership, Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, stated, “If the people who work with us and for us are from the same culture, religion, or gender, then we are prejudiced. Inclusion is a mindset. It only becomes real when people can see tangible efforts that make them feel seen, heard, and involved.”

A major highlight of the summit was the dynamic roundtable session on women’s leadership, themed: “Breaking the Concrete Ceiling”. Discussants challenged gender norms and inspired participants with powerful insights: Femininity is not akin to weakness. Femininity is silk—soft and strong. There is a temperature in your life that only you can feel. Own your light, own your reality, and learn to navigate the world your way.”

Nuggets from royalties in attendance also emphasized the importance of grounding leadership in Indigenous values. “Nation-building cannot happen in isolation from our cultural truths. The vibrancy of the youth is essential in accelerating the progress of society. Leadership is a Relay Race; the baton must be passed to the younger generation,” said HM Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri.

Summit Convener and Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, reaffirmed the vision behind the summit: “The Lagos Leadership Summit began with a bold idea — that leadership isn’t inherited, it’s built. As one of the flagship initiatives of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, the summit was thoughtfully curated by and for visionary Nigerian leaders. Here, futures are forged. Here, a new kind of leadership begins to be rooted in purpose, impact, and the power of collective action.”

The Lagos Leadership Summit 2025 closed Day 1 with a renewed commitment to building a generation of leaders equipped to drive inclusive, accountable, and visionary leadership across all sectors of society.