The Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy has commenced its 2026/2027 Fellowship year with a series of practical training and orientation activities aimed at equipping its new Class of Vanguards with leadership, safety and problem-solving skills.
The activities marked the Fellows’ first days at the Academy following the commencement of the new fellowship year and were designed to introduce them to the Academy’s operations while fostering collaboration and preparing them for the responsibilities ahead.
The Class of Vanguards began with an orientation programme covering the Academy’s departments and operations. The Fellows also interacted with the Executive Secretary, Mrs. Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade, and had opportunities to connect with one another as they became familiar with their new environment.
Speaking on the Academy’s approach to the Fellowship programme, Agbaje-Okunade said leadership development should extend beyond professional knowledge to include awareness, responsibility and the ability to respond appropriately to real-life situations.
“Leadership requires more than knowledge. It requires awareness, responsibility, and the ability to respond appropriately when circumstances demand it,” she said.
As part of the practical sessions, the Fellows received fire safety training facilitated by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service. The training focused on fire prevention, emergency procedures and the proper use of fire extinguishers.
The session also emphasised the need for individuals to remain calm, alert and responsive when faced with fire emergencies, providing the Fellows with practical knowledge that could prove useful beyond the Academy.
The training programme was complemented by a Basic Life Support session for Fellows, alumni and staff of the Academy. Participants received hands-on instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid, enabling members of the LJLA community to practise appropriate responses to medical emergencies.
Agbaje-Okunade said the initiative was part of the Academy’s responsibility to ensure that its Fellows and wider community were equipped with skills that could make a difference during emergencies.
“Part of our responsibility at LJLA is to ensure that our Fellows and members of our community are equipped to respond when it matters. Knowing what to do in an emergency can make a significant difference, and these are skills that extend beyond the Fellowship,” she said.
The Class of Vanguards also participated in a team-bonding exercise built around interactive leadership challenges designed to test communication, trust, teamwork and problem-solving abilities.
The activities required Fellows to work together in uncertain situations, share information, consider different perspectives and make decisions while pursuing common objectives.
According to the Academy, the exercises reinforced the practical dimensions of leadership and demonstrated how effective decision-making is often influenced by information, people and circumstances beyond an individual’s immediate perspective.
The combination of orientation, safety training and collaborative exercises provided the new Fellows with an early introduction to the broader LJLA Fellowship experience.
The Academy said the activities also established an important expectation for the 2026/2027 Fellowship year: that effective leadership goes beyond professional expertise to include sound judgement, awareness, teamwork and a strong sense of responsibility in real-life situations.
