Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf have called for stronger institutions, expanded opportunities for young people, and more inclusive leadership as critical pillars for Africa’s sustainable development.
They made the remarks on Wednesday at the Lagos Leadership Summit 2026, organised by the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, which convened policymakers, development partners, and emerging leaders to discuss pathways for effective governance.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, Governor Sanwo-Olu emphasised the importance of sponsorship in unlocking youth potential, describing it as more impactful than mentorship and access alone.
“Mentorship builds capacity. Sponsorship creates opportunities. Access gives you exposure,” he said, noting that many skilled young Nigerians remain underutilised due to limited opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities.
He stressed that sponsorship should not be confused with patronage, but seen as structured institutional support that enables competence to translate into results. According to him, real progress depends on how individuals perform once given opportunities.
In her keynote address, Sirleaf focused on institution-building, warning that governance centred on personalities rather than systems cannot guarantee lasting progress.
She argued that sustainable development depends on accountability, transparency, and strong legal frameworks, drawing from her experience leading Liberia after years of civil conflict.
“The strength and quality of governance define a presidency, but strength alone does not deliver change. Leadership does,” she said, adding that systems must be deliberately built to outlive individual leaders.
Sirleaf also strongly advocated for increased inclusion of women in governance, stating that symbolic representation is insufficient without structural change.
“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, stressed the importance of system-driven leadership and urged participants to focus on building structures that remain functional beyond individual tenures.
She noted that leadership should be measured not by visibility or rhetoric, but by long-term impact and sustainability.
“A system is what ensures that something works not once, but repeatedly because something reliable has been built,” she said, encouraging young people to actively engage with existing governance structures.
The summit concluded with renewed calls for intentional leadership development, stronger institutions, and greater inclusion of women and youth in decision-making processes across Africa.
