OXFORD UNIVERSITY’S ALUMNI VISITS LATEEF JAKANDE ACADEMY

… Tasks Associates on Capacity Building 

Five Alumni of the Blavatnik School of Government of the University of Oxford recently visited the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy (LJA) to engage with the Associates on capacity building. 

The Alumni, who were beneficiaries of the Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG), a sponsored Public Leadership Programme (PLP), are not only Lagos State Government staff but part of the 40 individuals chosen all over the country to attend the prestigious Oxford University.

While addressing the Alumni, the Executive Secretary of the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy, Mrs. Folasade Coker urged young people in the State see themselves as the architects of their destinies and not victims of the socio-economic realities of our time.

Coker, who quoted one of Simon Sinek’s favourite sayings, “We are not victims of our situations, we are architects of it”, enjoined the Associates and Lagos youths not to give in to a victims’ mentality as there is a lot in them to rise from the ashes of adversity and austerity.

One of the Oxford Alumni, Mr. Abdul Rahman Lekki, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Scholarship Board and a management consultant with over 10,000 hours of facilitation, took the Associates on the topic: “The Theory of Change and Management of Capstone Project”.

While listing some of the benefits of the Theory of Change, the Executive Secretary of the Scholarship Board, stated that the Theory helps to allocate resources wisely, monitor and evaluate programmes, as well as communicate with stakeholders. 

Lekki said, “Regardless of your grade level, deliver like a top gun. Build capacity and become the best you can be. That is the way to the top. Do not just do your bit, do your bit and do some more as you become the reference point of excellence”.

Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho, while talking on the topic: Storytelling Techniques for Effective Workplace Communication charged the Associates to harness the power of storytelling which is an important skill for workplace communication. 

Other alumni, who facilitated during the four-day roundtable discussion and knowledge-sharing platforms, include Dr. Funke Ayeni, Raheem Bolanle and Adedayo Adereti.