Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJLA), Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, has received the 2026 National Leadership Conference Award for Excellence in Public Service Leadership.

She received the award on Saturday, September 19, during the second day of the National Leadership Conference organised by the GOTNI Leadership Centre at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.

The two-day conference, themed “The Leadership Advantage: Aligning Vision, Driving Action and Delivering Results,” focused on leadership, strategic thinking, financial responsibility, resilience, people development, execution and sustainable leadership.

The programme featured discussions and presentations by prominent leaders and professionals, including Dr John Momoh, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Channels Television; Zamfara State Governor, Dr Dauda Lawal; Dr Kunemofa Asu, Director of Finance and Accounts at the Niger Delta Development Commission; Alexis Holifield, Financial Consultant and Wealth Strategist at Arkshire Financial; Ms Irma Ihumure, CEO of Kira Group Africa; Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe, Chairman of Tekedia Capital and Fasmicro Group; and Winifred Nwania, Founder of Winnie’s School of Excellence.

Momoh spoke on “Leading in the Age of Information: Trust, Communication and Institutional Trustworthiness,” while Lawal addressed “Leadership Under Pressure: Making Difficult Choices in Effort Towards Sustainable Progress.”
Other sessions examined financial leadership, wealth creation, resilience, strategic thinking, people development and institutional performance.

Receiving the award, Agbaje-Okunade expressed gratitude for the recognition and described it as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with leadership and public service.

“I receive this recognition with deep thankfulness and a strong sense of responsibility. For me, leadership has never been about the title or the recognition that comes with it, but about the people we serve, the opportunities we create and the impact we leave behind,” she said.

She added that the award would encourage her to continue investing in people, strengthening leadership capacity and promoting purposeful public service.

The recognition comes against the backdrop of her work at the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, where she contributes to initiatives focused on leadership development, capacity building and creating opportunities for emerging leaders.

The conference organisers said the programme was designed to examine how leaders can translate vision into action, make effective decisions under pressure and deliver sustainable results.

About Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade

Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade is the Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, where she contributes to programmes focused on leadership development, capacity building and supporting emerging leaders.