By Rukayat Moisemhe

Stakeholders in leadership development have urged greater investment in mentoring young people to promote responsible leadership and sustainable national growth.

They ​‌‍‌​‌‍⁠⁠‍‌‍⁠​​​‌‌‌​made the call at the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA) Mentors Meet-Up on Sunday in Lagos.

The Executive Secretary of LJLA, Mrs Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, described mentorship as a legacy investment that could equip young people with the capacity and opportunities to contribute meaningfully to society.

Agbaje-Okunade said many young people had the ambition to lead and make a difference but lacked the resources, guidance and access needed to realise their potential.

She said accomplished individuals had a responsibility to create opportunities for young people by allowing them to assume leadership responsibilities and gain practical experience.

She urged professionals, business leaders and public office holders to commit their time, knowledge and resources to nurture the next generation.

“Every young person must have someone to pour into them. I am a product of people pouring into me.

“As a young person, you may have the ambition but not necessarily the means to get there.

“The importance of someone allowing you to lead, even as a young person, cannot be overemphasised,” she said.

She disclosed that the Academy’s mentorship programme, which commenced in 2023, had progressed to its fourth cohort in 2026, with persons with disabilities also included.

She said the initiative had exposed young people to governance structures, leadership experiences and opportunities to participate in impactful projects across Lagos State.

She urged mentors to demonstrate commitment to the programme, stressing that mentoring should be regarded as deliberate social investment rather than occasional goodwill.

Agbaje-Okunade also urged political leaders to prioritise investment in young people as a means of promoting economic transformation and sustainable development.

Princess Damilola Sonayon-James, the APC deputy gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State, said society would benefit if successful individuals deliberately committed to mentoring at least five young people.

She regretted that many people benefited from society without making commensurate efforts to give back.

She described mentorship as an effective means of transferring knowledge, experience and values to future generations.

“If everyone who has succeeded takes at least five persons to mentor, the world would be a better place.

“Many people take a lot from society but are yet to give back,” she said.

Sonayon-James said mentorship would help young people avoid mistakes made by previous generations and prepare them to take responsibility for the future.

She urged professionals, industry leaders and other accomplished individuals to embrace the culture of mentoring.

She added that leadership development should encourage young people to identify and address challenges within their immediate communities.

“Meaningful contributions to society need not begin at the national or state level, as individuals can drive change by identifying needs and serving their communities,” she said.

Mrs Titi Oshodi, Special Adviser on Climate Change and Circular Economy to the Governor of Lagos State, said social investment required individuals to build a future they might not personally benefit from.

Oshodi stressed the need to equip young people with knowledge and skills to participate in the emerging green economy.

She noted that sustainability considerations would increasingly shape economic activities across different sectors.

She said investments in climate education, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and enterprise development would strengthen young people’s capacity to address emerging economic and environmental challenges.

Also, Mrs Ayo Fatoki-Maji, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Africa Leadership Initiative West Africa, said LJLA was established to develop the next generation of leaders.

She said exposing young people to leadership education, mentorship, practical experiences and accomplished leaders would prepare them for responsible participation in society.

Fatoki-Maji said the programme encouraged fellows to reflect on societal challenges and recognise their capacity to drive positive change.

Also speaking, the Managing Partner, Verraki Partners, Mr Niyi Yusuf, urged the mentees to translate their leadership training into practical community interventions.

He said they could develop projects capable of creating sustainable impacts beyond their participation in the Academy.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Lagos State, Mr Sam Egube, said leadership development required continuous learning and the ability to adapt to changing governance structures and societal realities.

He stressed that individuals must constantly develop themselves and understand evolving governance dynamics to remain effective leaders.

Another speaker, the Group Managing Director, A.G. Leventis Nigeria Ltd., Mrs Seun Oni, emphasised the need to introduce enterprise thinking into government structures to promote innovation and improve public service delivery.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that LJLA was established in honour of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, Lagos State’s first civilian governor.

The Academy aims to develop young people with the technical expertise, integrity and leadership capacity to drive positive change across different sectors.

It provides practical experiences, mentorship and exposure to governance and societal challenges to prepare young Nigerians for responsible leadership. (NAN)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma