COVID-19, #EndSARS Were My Toughest Leadership Tests

COVID-19, #EndSARS Were My Toughest Leadership Tests – Sanwo-Olu
Sanwo-Olu noted that Lagos had to establish a comprehensive response system despite global shortages of face masks, test kits and ventilators
Sanwo-Olu said the experiences taught him that while people cannot always choose the challenges they face, they can determine how they respond

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the COVID-19 pandemic and the #EndSARS protests as the two biggest leadership tests of his administration, saying both crises strengthened his resilience and reinforced the value of wise counsel, adaptability and calm decision-making.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the governor made the remarks on Sunday while delivering the 2026 undergraduate convocation lecture at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, titled, “Breaking New Ground: Faith, Grit and the Work of New Beginnings.”

Addressing the graduating NOVA Class of 2026, Sanwo-Olu urged the students to embrace uncertainty, learn from failure and remain steadfast in pursuing their dreams.

Reflecting on his emergence as governor in 2019, he recalled that the COVID-19 pandemic struck just nine months into his administration, forcing Lagos to respond to an unprecedented global health emergency.

“I had barely settled down as Governor when, in my ninth month in office, the world changed dramatically. Nine months is what it takes for a woman to carry and deliver a baby. In this case, what life delivered to me as Governor was COVID-19,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu noted that Lagos had to establish a comprehensive response system despite global shortages of face masks, test kits and ventilators, adding that the state became Nigeria’s epicentre of the pandemic.

He said the establishment of the Lagos COVID-19 War Room, which brought together scientists and technical experts, underscored the importance of relying on evidence and expert advice in governance.

“What I can tell you from that experience is that seeking and depending on wise counsel in life is very important. We should never assume that we know enough, or that we are able, by ourselves, to plot our path through life,” he said.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu

The governor said an even tougher challenge emerged in his second year in office with the #EndSARS protests, which he described as a period of near-total breakdown of law and order.

“If I thought COVID was the only baptism of fire awaiting me as Governor, I was very mistaken. COVID was merely the big test of my first year in office. A second big test was coming, in year two. It showed up in the form of the violent #EndSARS protests,” he said.

According to him, the unrest resulted in the destruction of billions of naira worth of public infrastructure, including the state’s forensic centre and judicial facilities containing irreplaceable records.

Sanwo-Olu said the experiences taught him that while people cannot always choose the challenges they face, they can determine how they respond.

“The lesson here is that we do not often get to choose what life sends our way. Our choice lies primarily in how we respond and adapt,” he said.

Encouraging the graduates to face the future with confidence, the governor said uncertainty is an inevitable part of life and advised them not to wait for perfect clarity before taking important decisions.

“You do not need absolute clarity or certainty to take the next step. More important is faith,” he said.

He also urged them not to fear failure, revealing that he experienced several business setbacks after graduating from the University of Lagos before eventually succeeding.

“Get used to trying and failing. Life rewards, most of all, the people who rise fastest after failing, not those who wallow in self-pity and a defeatist mindset,” he said.

On governance and innovation, Sanwo-Olu encouraged young Nigerians to focus on developing practical, evidence-based solutions to public challenges, stressing that innovation should be backed by legal frameworks, sustainable funding and measurable outcomes.

The governor also defended the economic reforms of President Bola Tinubu, describing them as necessary measures aimed at laying the foundation for long-term national growth despite their short-term impact.

He further urged the graduates to reject what he described as the growing culture of celebrating popularity over competence, encouraging them to value learning, integrity and hard work above social media fame.