LGA Prioritises Leadership Development, Grassroots Coordination, Youth Engagement and Data-Driven Planning
The Lagos Grassroots Alliance (LGA), under the banner “One Lagos, Many Voices,” has concluded its three-day retreat in Epe, Lagos State, with a renewed commitment to strengthening grassroots structures, developing responsible leaders and enhancing community engagement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Held from October 9 to 11, 2026 at Constalex Appartments in Epe, the retreat was themed “Strengthening Leadership, Grassroots Coordination and Youth Engagement Towards the 2027 Elections in Lagos State.” It brought together the Alliance’s leadership, Local Government Coordinators, student representatives and other stakeholders for leadership development, strategic deliberations and organisational planning.
In his welcome address, the Deputy Director-General, Hon. Seyi Odufowokan, emphasised the need for a shared understanding of the Group’s vision, stronger grassroots structures, greater youth inclusion, and a collective commitment to achieving measurable results.
The Convener of the Alliance, Hon. Owolabi Jamiu Falana, traced the group’s origins to JYSM, highlighting its founding vision of bringing like-minded individuals together to develop leaders and create meaningful societal impact. He charged Local Government Coordinators to demonstrate purposeful leadership, prioritise service and community development, and ensure that the Group’s mission extends beyond electoral success to sustained grassroots engagement.
Key sessions, including “The Leader Within,” “Leadership Dialogue,” “Commitment Session” and “The Road Ahead,” examined character, emotional intelligence, personal discipline, vision, accountability and service as essential qualities of effective leadership.
Participants were reminded that leadership is fundamentally about responsibility, not position, and that effective grassroots engagement requires integrity, discipline, collaboration, and a clear sense of purpose.
The retreat also featured presentations on grassroots engagement, stakeholder mapping, and community power structures. Drawing on historical electoral data dating back to 2003, Hon. Falana highlighted the importance of reliable information, electoral trends and local dynamics in developing effective engagement and mobilisation strategies.
As part of the retreat’s strategic deliberations, Local Government Coordinators presented proposed programmes and grassroots mobilisation plans. Discussions focused on improving collaboration among coordinators, local managers, ward captains and other stakeholders to establish a more effective and coordinated grassroots network.
The presentations and deliberations are expected to inform further planning towards the development of a practical grassroots coordination framework, with emphasis on clear responsibilities, community-level engagement and measurable outcomes.
The retreat also reaffirmed the importance of youth and student participation in leadership development, civic engagement and grassroots mobilisation, recognising their potential to contribute meaningfully to the Group’s organisational growth and electoral objectives.
Meanwhile, one of the key outcomes of the retreat was the constitution of a special committee to develop strategic recommendations for submission to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council for consideration and possible implementation.
The initiative is intended to translate the retreat’s deliberations into actionable proposals that could strengthen grassroots coordination, community mobilisation, and stakeholder engagement ahead of the 2027 elections.
Participants also emphasised the need to move beyond general commitments by developing practical strategies that can be implemented, monitored, and evaluated across local government areas and wards.
The final day featured sporting activities designed to promote teamwork, unity, and stronger interpersonal relationships among participants. A special prayer session was also held to seek divine guidance, organisational cohesion, and success for candidates presented by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming elections.
During the closing reflections, participants were encouraged to translate the lessons and insights gained into practical action, with particular emphasis on disciplined leadership, evidence-informed planning, effective community engagement, and measurable results.
The retreat concluded with a renewed call for members to move from deliberations to implementation, strengthen collaboration across the Alliance’s structures, and sustain collective efforts in support of the APC’s leadership and electoral objectives.
The overall message of the retreat was clear: build capable leaders, strengthen grassroots structures, strategise with reliable data, mobilise communities, and translate commitments into measurable results.
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