Six-month virtual series to connect emerging leaders with experienced figures

The Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA), Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, has launched “The Leadership Room”, a new leadership discussion series designed to connect young Nigerians with experienced leaders across various sectors.

The six-month virtual series, starting in September 2026, will give emerging leaders the chance to learn from established figures through interactive conversations on leadership, character, competence, and purpose.

The sessions will be held on the first Tuesday of every month and feature moderated discussions, question-and-answer sessions and opportunities for participants to reflect on lessons from the conversations.

Unlike platforms that focus primarily on speeches and presentations, The Leadership Room is designed to give young people direct access to experienced leaders, enabling them to ask questions and explore the realities of leadership.

Agbaje-Okunade said the initiative was inspired by the need to expose young Nigerians to practical leadership experiences before they assume positions of authority.

“As soon as someone is given a title, leadership development doesn’t need to start; it should begin a lot earlier—when people are still trying to discover who they are, what they stand for and the kind of impact they would like to make,” she said.

She added that the initiative would provide young people with an opportunity to interact with people who had built institutions, led organisations, experienced failure and achieved success in different fields.

“The Leadership Room is all about access; it provides young people with the chance to hear directly from successful leaders, to ask the questions which they might not otherwise have the opportunity to ask, and to come to the understanding that leadership is not merely a matter of holding a position but involves responsibility, character, service and the ability to make an impact,” she said.

The first edition will feature Dr Omobola Johnson, a business and technology leader, and Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, economist, author and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The discussions will cover issues including identity, character, accountability, people leadership, institutional leadership, execution and legacy.

According to the organisers, the objective is to move beyond inspiration by providing participants with practical perspectives they can apply in their careers, organisations, communities and public lives.

The initiative also marks an expansion of the Academy’s leadership development approach beyond its Fellowship Programme, providing young people who are not fellows with access to leadership conversations and a growing community of emerging leaders.

Agbaje-Okunade said broadening access was necessary to develop the next generation of leaders.

“If we are serious about developing the next generation of leaders, it is necessary to broaden the discussion. We must provide room for young people from diverse backgrounds, professions and different parts of the country to learn from each other and from those who have come before them. That is the kind of environment we are trying to create,” she said.

The Academy also plans to create a digital library of insights, lessons and perspectives from the series, allowing young people to access the content beyond the live sessions.
The pilot programme will run from September 2026 to February 2027 and is expected to attract young professionals, students, entrepreneurs, public-sector professionals, emerging leaders and others interested in leadership development across Nigeria and Africa.

Agbaje-Okunade said the ultimate goal was to help young Nigerians understand that leadership goes beyond occupying positions of influence.
“Our aim is not only to prepare young people to become leaders, but also to help them understand the kind of leaders they would like to become,” she said.

Registration details for the first edition will be announced through the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy’s official channels.