EARLY LEADERSHIP EXPOSURE KEY FOR NIGERIAN YOUTHS

The Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, has stressed the need to expose young Nigerians to experienced leaders early enough to prepare them for future responsibilities.

She made the call while announcing The Leadership Room, a six-month virtual programme designed to connect young people with established leaders from different sectors.

According to Agbaje-Okunade, leadership development should begin before young people occupy positions of authority. She said early exposure would help them understand who they are, what they stand for and the kind of impact they want to make.

The programme will provide participants with opportunities to hear directly from experienced leaders, ask questions and learn from their professional journeys, including the challenges and decisions they encountered along the way.

The Leadership Room will hold virtual sessions on the first Tuesday of every month, featuring moderated discussions and interactive question-and-answer sessions.

The first edition will feature former Minister of Communication Technology, Omobola Johnson, and economist and former Central Bank of Nigeria Deputy Governor, Kingsley Moghalu.

The sessions will cover topics such as identity, character, accountability, people leadership, institutional leadership, execution and legacy.

The Academy said the initiative is intended to move beyond motivational talks by giving young Nigerians practical lessons that can be applied to their careers, communities and public lives.

The six-month pilot will run from September 2026 to February 2027 and is expected to attract students, young professionals, entrepreneurs and emerging leaders across Nigeria and Africa.

Agbaje-Okunade said the broader goal was not simply to prepare young people to occupy leadership positions, but to help them understand the kind of leaders they want to become.