Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, in a bid to honour late Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, the state’s first civilian governor, has announced to set up a Leadership and Fellowship academy to immortalize him. Jakande died on February 11, 2021 at the age of 91.
Sanwo-Olu made the announcement on Wednesday, March 17th, 2021 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos Island where the Day of Tributes was organised to celebrate the life and times of late Jakande by the State Government.
Sanwo-Olu said: “Today, we celebrate a great man, a selfless leader, a rare gem, a quintessential politician, an administrator par excellence, the first civilian Governor of our State, architect of modern Lagos, and one of the leading disciples of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, ‘Baba Kekere’, a sobriquet he earned for taking after the late sage. He was a man who led a life rich not in material things but in the things that truly matter – integrity, honour, service and character.”
“Alhaji Jakande’s tenure will continue to be remembered by generations as a reference point in good governance, welfarism, visionary leadership, selflessness, transformational leadership and leadership by example. In recognition and appreciation of his outstanding achievements, and as a way of immortalising his name, we are setting up an endowment to be known as Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy. The institute will be supported by enabling Act of the State House of Assembly.”
“The decision to establish the Academy to immortalise Jakande is thought-through, given that there have been several public monuments already named after the former Governor.”
“Baba Jakande died a happy and fulfilled man because he was able to witness the progress that successive administrations, especially civilian governments, made with regards to actualising the Lagos of his dream. The highest honour we can pay him is to continue to strive to live up to his leadership ideals and to deliver the full dividends of democracy to the people of Lagos.”
Also, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said;
“The late Baba Jakande was a man of many parts. A journalist of repute, a great politician, an accomplished administrator and a devout Muslim. He was a detribalised Nigerian. He is the unfallen Iroko tree long after his days; it’s roots reach deeper and deeper.”
“When the story of Lagos is told and when the geniuses of history pen indelible words of great and little actions of men, a page will be penned in gold of a man, who envisioned and translated the desires of many of his people to reality.”