Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has shared how President Bola Tinubu played a key role in shaping his path to leadership by entrusting him with responsibilities that helped him grow and develop essential skills.

Speaking at the Lagos Leadership Summit held on Wednesday at Konga Place in Lekki and organised by the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Sanwo-Olu addressed an audience of young people, encouraging them to take smaller roles seriously as they could serve as the foundation for greater opportunities.

He said that his capacity to deliver on simple tasks while serving in smaller roles helped lay the groundwork for his future in leadership.

Sanwo-Olu recalled how he joined the public service in 2002 as Special Adviser on Economic Matters during Tinubu’s administration in Lagos State. He described the period as a major turning point in his life, saying Tinubu’s transformative and hands-on leadership approach allowed him to take on multiple portfolios and learn from real-time experience.

He said: “I was appointed to serve as Special Adviser when former Governor, now President Tinubu started to lay the groundwork for the transformation of Lagos to modern city.

“For me, this was the period I started gaining from Tinubu’s transformative and pragmatic approach to leadership.

“This opportunity exposed me to international trips where we had official engagements with various multinational organisations. I was crisscrossing from one portfolio to another, serving in areas that included Transportation, Environment, Public Safety and Education.

“While I served in Transportation, I put in my very best and challenged personnel in the sector. I was deployed to revenue generation; I went in there to improve on the numbers and boosted staff capacity. In environment, I changed the status quo. I was doing all of these without thinking of future expectations.”

Sanwo-Olu also shared how, after Tinubu’s tenure ended in 2007, he was retained in the next administration under former Governor Babatunde Fashola. He was posted to a ministry that many considered unrewarding, but the experience proved to be a test of his capacity and an opportunity for personal growth.

He said that even in positions perceived as less attractive, he focused on improving human capital and delivering real results, using the experience to sharpen his leadership skills. He credited these early experiences for helping prepare him for his current role as governor.

Sanwo-Olu urged participants not to be discouraged by setbacks or unmet expectations, stating that failure is not the end of the road. He advised them to build resilience and stay committed to their goals.

Other notable figures who attended the summit included the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III; the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamali; and the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal. The summit was held under the theme “Transformative Leadership: Developing Responsive, Adaptive and Inclusive Models.”