The Lagos State Government has introduced an Excellence Pathway to enable qualified fellows of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy to join the state civil service, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on Friday at the graduation ceremony of the academy’s third cohort and the induction of the 2026/2027 fellows at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Ikeja GRA. He said the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between leadership training and opportunities to serve in government.
The governor said high-performing fellows who meet the applicable requirements would be able to move from the fellowship into government, describing the academy as a pipeline for young Nigerians interested in public service. He said the initiative was intended to ensure that leadership training translated into practical contributions to the administration of Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu said the academy was established to develop people capable of taking responsibility for the state’s future administration, including managing public institutions, occupying senior civil service positions and making major decisions on behalf of residents. He described leadership as infrastructure, arguing that the quality of people managing public assets would determine how effectively such investments serve Lagos.
The governor also said the academy had been established in law to ensure its continuity beyond his tenure. He noted that the graduation was the last he would attend as governor, stressing that the institution was designed for Lagos State rather than for any particular administration or governor.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that more than 16,000 people applied for the incoming cohort but said the academy would prioritise quality over numbers. He urged the new fellows to look beyond certificates and focus on integrity, institutional development and the willingness to take responsibility even when doing so carried personal costs.
He said the fellowship should not simply become another credential on participants’ CVs, but should prepare them to contribute meaningfully to public service. According to him, Lagos needs leaders who will uphold what is right and strengthen public institutions, making the Excellence Pathway a mechanism for turning the academy’s leadership training into long-term service to the state.
