Hon. Balogun Danjuma Danjo, one of the few Oyo State indigenes selected for the prestigious Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy in Lagos, has described his experience at the academy as one of the most challenging yet trans-formative phases of his life.
Speaking with Ibadancity Announcer, Danjo revealed that the academy’s selection process was rigorous, involving multiple stages of interviews and tests that narrowed over 16,000 applicants down to just 30 fellows.
“It’s one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life,” he said. “We did almost seven interviews, both online and physical. It’s not something you can fake your way through. You must be good and have experience.”
Danjo, who had previously participated in two other fellowships, said the program provided unparalleled exposure to governance and public administration. He recounted working in the Lagos State Governor’s Office under the Office of Sustainable Development Goals, where he witnessed how governance functions at a highly efficient level.
He praised Lagos State’s civil service system, describing it as “the best in Africa” due to its professionalism, innovation, and work culture.
“There are MDAs in Lagos you’ll enter, and you won’t know the difference between them and private firms like KPMG,” he explained. “Civil servants come to work in suits, not Ankara. They operate like a corporate organization.”
Danjo also shared his astonishment at the Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC) in Magodo, a facility dedicated solely to training civil servants.
“That place is bigger than the whole Oyo State Secretariat,” he said. “It’s beautiful, well-equipped, and solely focused on civil service development. That’s the level of investment Lagos State makes in governance.”
When asked if Oyo State could replicate such an initiative, Danjo confirmed that he had already written to the governor advocating for a similar leadership academy.
“We need a leadership academy in Oyo State. It may not be exactly like Lateef Jakande’s, but we can localize it to build the next generation of capable leaders,” he said.
Danjo described his time in the academy, which also included an international trip to Singapore, as a life-changing experience that reshaped his understanding of public service.
“Even if you’re the worst person on earth, Lateef Jakande Academy will change your life,” he concluded.
