Oluwatosin Lemo has officially assumed office as the 2026 President of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Continental Lagos. The inauguration ceremony, held on 7 December 2025, saw past presidents, national officers, board members, partners, and guests in attendance to witness the transition of leadership.
A Mandate for Collective Leadership and Service
During his inauguration, Lemo unveiled his presidential theme for the year: "BEACON: Rise to Lead." He framed his mandate as a solemn duty to uphold the organization's legacy and empower members to drive societal progress. Lemo explained that the BEACON concept is inspired by the symbolism of a lighthouse, representing consistent, dutiful, and intentional leadership that guides others.
"BEACON is a call to rise, a call to responsibility, a call to commit and to serve," Lemo stated. He emphasized that every action taken by the chapter has a tangible impact on communities.
Strategic Priorities for 2026
Outlining his key focus areas, President Lemo highlighted that leadership development will be central to his administration. This will be achieved through structured programmes, masterclasses, and recognition systems designed to build competent leaders.
To enhance operational effectiveness, Lemo announced the creation of a new directorate tasked with promoting excellence, innovation, and efficiency within JCI Lagos's internal systems. He reaffirmed the chapter's commitment to executing service-driven initiatives that align with JCI's global mission, while boosting member engagement and inclusiveness.
"Every member and stakeholder must feel connected to our purpose and actively involved in delivering solutions that make a difference," he urged.
Keynote Emphasizes Collaborative Growth
The event featured a keynote address by Michael Alasa, Managing Partner of Recruten, who spoke on "The Power of Collaboration: Building Networks for Growth." Alasa argued that in today's business landscape, individual effort is insufficient for significant growth.
"You cannot grow beyond the strength of your network if you insist on working alone," Alasa cautioned. He encouraged professionals to forge trust-based relationships and set aside personal ego to enable fruitful collaboration. He noted that successful organizations harness diverse perspectives to innovate and solve problems more effectively.
Uniting for a Brighter Future
Echoing the keynote's message, President Lemo stressed that collective leadership is the cornerstone for achieving the chapter's 2026 objectives. He used a powerful analogy to illustrate his point: "A single light has limited reach. To illuminate the future, we must work as a constellation."
He called on both experienced and new members to contribute their skills towards realizing the BEACON vision. Concluding with a rallying cry, Lemo urged everyone to "roll up their sleeves" and work in unison to create measurable impact throughout the coming year.
