RYLA 2026 Ends With Awards, Recognition for 466 Young Leaders
RYLA 2026 honours 466 young leaders in Lagos as Rotary International District 9112 closes its leadership academy with awards and recognition
The Rotary Youth Leadership Academy, RYLA 2026, concluded its programme in Lagos on Sunday, August 23, 2026, with 466 young participants receiving recognition and encouragement at a closing ceremony held at the Sea School in Apapa.
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Organised by Rotary International District 9112 under the theme “Today’s Innovators, Tomorrow’s Leaders”, the academy brought together young people for an intensive leadership experience focused on responsibility, innovation, service and personal development.
The closing ceremony marked the culmination of the 2026 RYLA programme, with participants, Rotarians and invited guests gathering to celebrate achievements recorded during the academy.
The day’s activities began at the Sea School Jetty in Apapa, where participants and guests were transported across the water to the venue.
The arrival set the tone for a celebratory closing programme, which featured fellowship, leadership recognition and reflections on the experience of the young participants.
Rotary International District 9112 District Governor Rtn. Layi Abidoye was among the prominent figures at the ceremony. Abidoye received a parade and salute before inspecting parts of the RYLA camp and observing the facilities and activities.
The inspection offered the District Governor an opportunity to engage with the environment in which the participants had completed their leadership training.
A luncheon with Abidoye followed, alongside a recognition programme celebrating individuals and groups whose contributions helped make the academy successful.
One of the key moments was the presentation of awards to outstanding watch houses within the camp.
The awards recognised participants and teams that distinguished themselves through their performance and contributions during the programme.
Members of the RYLA committee were also recognised for their work in organising and delivering the academy.
Impactful Rotarians who contributed to the development and success of the programme received awards as part of the ceremony, highlighting the collaborative effort behind the leadership initiative.
The academy also provided monetary support to participants and delivered words of encouragement as the young leaders prepared to return to their communities.
Beyond the awards, the closing ceremony carried a wider message about the responsibility that comes with leadership training.
The programme encouraged the 466 Rylarians to take the lessons learned during the academy beyond the camp and apply them to their communities, schools, workplaces and other areas of influence.
RYLA is designed to expose young people to leadership principles while encouraging teamwork, service and innovative thinking.
The 2026 edition continued that focus through its emphasis on developing young people who can contribute meaningfully to society.
The presence of Rotary leaders, guests and participants at the closing event created a warm and reflective atmosphere as the academy came to an end.
For the young participants, the conclusion of RYLA 2026 represented more than the end of a training programme.
It marked the beginning of an expectation that the skills, relationships and experiences gained during the academy would translate into practical leadership and community impact.
The theme, “Today’s Innovators, Tomorrow’s Leaders”, captured that ambition, placing young people at the centre of a broader conversation about responsible leadership and positive change.
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With 466 young people completing the 2026 programme, the closing ceremony in Apapa offered a fitting conclusion to an academy built around the belief that leadership can be nurtured through experience, service and purposeful engagement.
