The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ambode

  • Osinbajo, Ambode, others for Guild of Editors’ convention

    The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has concluded plans to hold its biennial convention in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital.

    The convention will hold from May 3 to 5 at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja.

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) is the special guest of honour while Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, the host, will declare the convention open.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is the host minister.

    The convention, with the theme: Media Convergence as Strategy for Survival, is expected to be attended by over 300 editors across the country.

    The keynote will be delivered by Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Head of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos (UNILAG) and member, Editorial Board of The Guardian.

    A statement by NGE’s Social/Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ken Ugbechie, said the convention will be chaired by veteran journalist, Mr. Dan Agbese, who is also an author, columnist and Executive Director of MayFive Media Limited.

    A major highpoint of the convention is the election of new Exco members to run the affairs of the guild in the next two years, after the expiration of the tenure of Mrs. Funke Egbemode-led Exco.

    Also, the election committee announced that it had cleared 23 candidates to vie for elective positions into the guild’s Executive Council and Standing Committee.

    The election will hold on May 4 after the opening ceremony and it is the first election to be held with the use of the amended 2016 NGE Constitution and Election Guidelines.

    A statement by the Secretary of NGE Electoral Committee, Gbemiga Ogunleye, said 23 candidates were cleared for 12 offices.

    Those cleared include: Funke Egbemode, for president; Messrs Umar Saidu Tudunwada and Chooks Ogbonnaya Oko, for deputy president.

    For the office of vice-president (North), Hajia Sani and Mr Sanusi Jibrin were cleared as contestants.

    Also, for the office of vice-president (East), Mr Samuel Egbala and Mr Dom Isute were cleared as contestants, while for the office of vice-president (West), Mr Mustapha Isa was cleared.

    Mary Atolagbe is the candidate for the post of General Secretary, while Austeen Elewodalu and Juliet Njiowhor were cleared as contestants for the post of Assistant General Secretary.

    Victoria Ibanga was cleared to contest for the post of Treasurer, while Ken Ugbechie was cleared to contest for the post of Social/Publicity Secretary.

     

     

  • Ambode preaches sacrifice, tolerance

    As Christians in Nigeria join their counterparts across the world to celebrate Easter, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of tolerance, peaceful co-existence and sacrifice for one another, which Jesus Christ demonstrated throughout his period on earth.

    The governor, in his Easter message, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said the celebration of the resurrection of Christ which the season represents, should be a constant reminder for everyone to extend the virtues of selflessness, love, sacrifice and tolerance.

    Ambode also commended Lagosians for the sustained peaceful co-existence that the State has experienced since the commencement of his administration despite being home to multi ethnic, cultural and religious diversities.

  • Give us monarch before exit, Ikeja kingmakers urge Ambode

    The body of kingmakers in Ikeja, Lagos, at the weekend pleaded with Governor Akinwumi Ambode to install a monarch in the community before he leaves office, noting that Ikeja has been without a traditional ruler for upwards of five years.

    The kingmakers, who spoke to our correspondent at the weekend through their secretary, Chief Olufemi Titi-Thomas, lamented that they had chosen an Oba-elect in the person of Prince Samsondeen Adeleye since December 2014, but that the state government was yet to give its approval.

    “When the last Olu of Ikeja, Oba Rauf Matemi, Amore 1, joined his ancestors in October 2014, the kingmakers in December that year, under the leadership of former Lagos deputy governor, the late Chief Rafiu Jafojo, met, performed all traditional rites and screened the princes, which led to the emergence of Prince Samsondeen Adeleye.

    “We, the kingmakers, sent his name to Ikeja Local Government for onward transfer to the Lagos State Government for approval. But ever since, we have been waiting.

    “We know what Ikeja, which is the capital of Lagos State, has lost because we don’t have a traditional ruler to represent us where certain decisions are being taken. Besides, the community needs a monarch to be our face, inspire progress among indigenes, and perform the needed traditional rites for the peace and progress of Ikeja.

    “We really appreciate Governor Ambode’s performance and contributions to Ikeja and the entire Lagos State in the last four years, but we plead with His Excellency to crown everything by correcting the aberration of having an Oba-in-waiting for five years, during which the community has missed so many opportunities,” Titi-Thomas urged the governor.

    He added that the kingmakers commended the peaceful conduct of the last general elections in Lagos State, especially the governorship election won by Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Mr. Femi Hamzat of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • Synergy holds key to ultimate performance, says Ambode

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said yesterday that synergy was the key to ultimate performance in the public service.

    He said harnessing the benefits of team building and synergy to maximise performance in the civil service should not be underestimated.

    “Civil servants need to be trained and retrained so that working together, the output of the civil service will be increased,” Ambode added.

    Speaking at a two-day training for civil servants in Ikeja, the governor restated his administration’s appreciation of the benefits of training and retraining and their impact on the performance and delivery of services by civil servants.

    The governor, represented by Establishments, Training and Pensions Commissioner Dr. Benson Oke, said synergy happens when one plus one equals ten or a hundred or even a thousand.

    He said it was the result when two or more respectful human beings determined to go beyond their preconceived ideas to meet a great challenge.

    “Synergy is better than my way or your way. It is our way”, Ambode said.

    He said synergies were not only about cost reduction, but could also be access to markets, exchange of products, avoiding overlaps and exchange of best practices.

    “Synergy is also described as bonus that is achieved when things work together harmoniously. Synergy is everywhere in nature. Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much,” the governor said.

    Lagos Business School executive Prof. Pat Utomi said the training was about synergy, to enable civil servants increase their productivity and become result-oriented.

    He hailed the government for deeming it fit to train the workers.

    The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Establishment, Training and Pension, Mrs. Rhoda Ayinde, congratulated the participants for being counted worthy as part of the programme.

    She advised them to use the knowledge gained from the training to improve the performance of the civil service.

     

  • Updated: Ambode inaugurates 20-man transition committee

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday inaugurated a 20-member transition committee.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello represented Ambode at the inauguration ceremony which took place at the SSG’s office in Alausa, Ikeja.

    The committee is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring smooth transition of power from the outgoing administration to the incoming on May 29.

    Tunji Bello and the deputy governor elect, Obafemi Hamzat are the co-chairmen of the 20 man committee.

    Members of the Committee include the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem; Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade; Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ade Akinsanya, Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh and Special Adviser on Urban Development, Mrs. Yetunde Onabule.

    Read Also: Ambode performs pre-launch of $50m factory in Lekki Free Zone

    Other members include Permanent Secretary, Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Jimi Hotonu; Accountant General and Permanent Secretary Treasury Office, Mr. Abimbola Umar; Permanent Secretary, Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Abayomi Kadiri, Ayo Gbeleyi; Sam Ngube; Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin; Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins; Mr. Bayo Sotade; Solape Hammond; Mrs. Bunmi Fabanwo; Mrs. Bukola Odoe and Mrs. Toke Benson Awoyinka.

    Inaugurating the Committee, Ambode said a smooth transition to the next administration was imperative to ensure that the machinery of government continues to run smoothly without any hitch, considering the economic importance of Lagos to Nigeria.

    “In about seven weeks from now, the tenure of this administration will come to an end and a new administration will commence under the leadership of His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    “A smooth transition to the next administration is imperative to ensure that the machinery of government continues to run smoothly. Our State is a delicate one with very significant importance in the economic and social stability of our nation.

    “To maintain this stability, build on the solid status of our State and give the next administration a smooth take-off, it is imperative to quickly put in place a transition committee whose major responsibility will be to ensure a seamless transition to the next administration come May 29, 2019,” Governor Ambode said.

    He commended Lagosians for keeping faith with the progressive ideals of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last two decades and also his administration, expressing optimism that the incoming administration would build on the achievements recorded so far.

    “Let me use this opportunity to once again express my profound appreciation to all Lagosians for keeping faith with this administration and the rare privilege to serve. Government is not a sprint or a short distance race. It is an unending race.

    “For us in Lagos State, it has been a progressive race in which every successive administration builds upon the achievement of the past administration.

    He charged the Committee to accord the assignment the diligence and commitment it deserves.

    In his vote of charge, the Deputy Governor-elect assured that the Committee would immediately commence its work and ensure that everything done is in the interest of the State, adding that it would be a transition of the same government as the incoming administration would build on the existing template to move the State forward.

    “Lagos State has always been a pace setter in everything and that’s exactly what we would do here. Everyone on this table is a prominent Lagosian and everything would be in the interest of the State; it’s the same government and it should be pretty straightforward,” he said.

  • Ambode seeks PPP to develop Lagos

    The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has called for more public-private partnership (PPP) to develop the state to the next level.

    He spoke during the inauguration of Greater Lagos IV (GLIV) gas pipeline network and  Elegbata Sports Complex renovated by Axxela Limited (Axxela), sub-Saharan Africa’s fast-growing gas & power portfolio company.

    Greater Lagos IV (GLIV) is Axxela’s gas pipeline network, developed by its Gaslink Nigeria Limited subsidiary in partnership with the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC). Spanning from Ijora through Lagos Island’s Marina axis, the $30 million pipeline will supply gas to commercial and industrial off-takers along its route. Already, it has First Power and Island Power as its customers.

    Read also: Lagos screens over 250 intending pilgrims

    Represented by the Lagos Sports Commission Chairman, Dr. Kweku Adedayo Tandoh, the governor lauded Axxela for the initiative and its role in boosting economic development in the state.

    He said: “I would like to thank Axxela for developing this sports facility which indicates its firm commitment to the welfare of its host communities.

  • Lagos committed to making the state work for all, says Ambode

    LAGOS State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday inaugurated the state’s Resilience Office (LASRO), restating the administration’s commitment to making the state work in spite of challenges of urbanisation.

    He said the state’s mega city status has brought with it growing challenges such as traffic congestion, shortage of affordable housing, poor power supply and high rate of unemployment.

    The event, which took place at Protea Hotel, Ikeja, also signposted the state’s inauguration of activities as a member of Resilience Cities 100, an initiative of the Rockefeller Foundation, which started 20 years ago. Lagos was listed a member of the RC100 in 2017.

    Ambode, who was represented by Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, said in spite of its limited land size, Lagos is home to 23 million inhabitants, with a growing challenge of developing capacity to accommodate future growth.

    The governor, who opened the Resilience Lagos Week 2019, said LASRO has the mandate of making Lagos better, through the promotion of the wellbeing of the citizenry and building their resilience by helping people, community and institutions to prepare for, withstand and emerge stronger from acute shocks and chronic stress that comes with living in the state.

    Read also: Ambode lauds NYSC for election role as 2,568 corps members swear oath

    “Indications are that Lagos is by nature susceptible to some challenges, which could be best overcome through knowledge-sharing with developed world countries that had encountered similar challenges in the past, but have surmounted them,” he said.

    Ambode said the government would keep aggressively pursuing the transformation of its environmental challenges into opportunities such as waste to wealth, conversion of crime zones into beautiful areas, tree planting and greenery to mitigate climate change and the provision of affordable housing for all.

    He stressed that the partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation through the RC100 programme would help Lagos amplify their city resilience framework, which would help the state prepare for the increasingly unpredictable future.

    According to him, statistics have shown that despite its small geographic size, Lagos State, the country’s economic and commercial nerve centre, is home to a highly skilled workforce, with the greatest concentration of industries, key markets, financial and an information technology hub.

    The state, Ambode said, is growing 10 times faster than any other major metropolis of the world.

    President of RC 100/Rockefeller Foundation Mr. Michael Berkowitz said the admittance of Lagos State as a member of 100 resilient cities, which started in 2015, with the state’s application for membership, was concretised in February 2017.

    Berkowitz, who was represented by RC 100 Deputy President Nse Umo Esema, praised the state for coming up with the Lagos City Resilience Strategy (Lagos CRS), aimed at tapping into the deep resources and natural resilience of the people, with the hope of making the city more resilient to the current and future challenges.

    According to Berkowitz, “with a growing population, environmental challenges, and the burden of poverty as well as huge infrastructural gaps, Lagos needs to be resourceful, flexible, robust and adaptable in meeting its growing challenges, in spite of its dwindling resources”.

    The state’s Director, Development partnership Department in the Ministry of Economic planning and Budget Mr. Olalekan Bankole, said the RC 100 membership would help develop a pragmatic response to the needs of megacity Lagos, even as it grows into becoming a giga city (cities with 100 million population) by the end of the century.

    Among other lead presenters expected to speak at the four-day event, which would be rounded off on Friday are; former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Mr. Supo Sasore, SAN; a lawyer and poet Aduke Gomez;  Vassily Oye Barberopolous; Dr. Andrew Nevin; Weibei Boer; WaterAid International Director John Garrett and others.

     

     

  • Ambode lauds NYSC for election role as 2,568 corps members swear oath

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has praised the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for its roles in the success of the general elections.

    Ambode said this on Friday at the Swearing-In of 2019 Batch A corps members at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Iyana Ipaja, Lagos where he was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Dr Yusuf Jimoh.

    “May I on this note specially commend the National Youth Service Corps for its invaluable role and contributions to the just concluded elections.

    “The success of the 2019 elections has further proven that the scheme is indeed an enduring legacy of its founding fathers.

    “Our political trajectory becomes more definite with the NYSC as an instrument for sustaining our democracy,” he said.

    Lagos State NYSC Coordinator, Prince Mohammed Momoh, said a total of 2,658 corps members (954 male and 1,614 females) took the oath of allegiance administered by the Chief Justice of Lagos, Justice Opeyemi Oke, represented by Justice Olabisi Akinlade of the Lagos High Court at the ceremony.

    He urged them to take the programmes of the three week orientation camp seriously, especially the entrepreneurship trainig programme aimed at preparing them for self- employment.

    “The Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme has been specially designed to salvage the deepening threat of unemployment in our country.

    “I therefore encourage you to go the extra mile to participate in the programme in order to derive the maximum benefits and position yourself as an entrepreneur ready to take the many business opportunities out there. Remember the race for excellence has no finish line,” he said.

  • Ambode and Lagos History Lecture

    When the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration organised the Lagos History Lecture to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Lagos State in May 2017, it wasn’t expected to be just a one-off.  However, two years after the first lecture, there are indications that the idea is going nowhere.

    The title of the lecture: “Lagos: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” Prof H. O. Danmole, who delivered the lecture, was at the time Dean, Faculty of the Humanities and Social Sciences, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin. The event happened on May 24, 2017 at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos.

    In his welcome speech, Ambode had said:  “The gathering of today goes beyond the periphery; this is because today offers us all, an opportunity to have introspection into the past, engage in an objective appraisal of the present and, a realistic prognosis of the future of another fifty years… It is important for us at this epochal gathering to refresh our memory about the beginning.”

    He added: “I have no doubt that this assemblage will at the end of its sitting put an end to the erroneous impression by some in the public space that Lagos is no man’s land. The need for this becomes imperative so that today’s young folks will know the truth and be able to stand on the right historical platform.”

    It is noteworthy that the government had reportedly planned to distribute printed copies of the lecture to the public, particularly public secondary schools in the state, as a way of publicising “the truth” about “the beginning.”  Two years after the event, this hasn’t been done. Ambode had observed:  “What we are doing here today is another history and as such I urge all to take it serious so that history will be kind to us all.” Ironically, it seems the Ambode administration itself didn’t take the event seriously enough, which explains why the lecture has not been printed and circulated as initially planned.  This isn’t the way to be history-friendly.

    Danmole’s lecture, divided into eight parts, covers The Early Years; The British in Lagos Affairs; Establishment of Colonial Rule; Colonial Government and Traditional Politics; and Lagos: Nigeria’s First Capital City. Other parts are: The Creation of Lagos State; Lagos: The Era of Action Governor, Jakande Years; Tinubu to Ambode Revolution; and Lagos of the Future.

    “The history of Lagos has received attention from historians and others; and a single lecture cannot do proper justice to it,” Danmole notes.  “However, this lecture shall try to give some insight into major developments in its history. Lagos Island (Eko), which is the epicentre of our present Lagos State, is one of the oldest kingdoms on the West African Coast. Incidentally, the kingdom of Lagos was also one of the earliest recipients of European traders and travellers in what is now modern Nigeria. Reportedly, Portuguese merchants, because of the geographical location of Lagos on the lagoon, gave the Island its name Lagos.  Lagos Island, to the indigenous population, is called EKO, a name whose origin is told in two well-known traditional but controversial accounts.”

    Danmole continues: “Nevertheless, it is important to note that one version of the name relates to the advent of the Awori, while the other is connected to Benin adv entures in Lagos. Our knowledge of the early history of Lagos is enriched by the accounts of European travellers, historians and traditional accounts. What is fairly certain is that the Awori settlement in Lagos was earlier than that of the Benin which eventually subjugated the emergent settlement. Lagos continued to evolve as a veritable place of migration for many Yoruba groups; some of these included the Ilaje and other groups who were attracted to Lagos because of their fishing activities.”

    According to Danmole, “The idea for the creation of a Lagos region could be traced to a suggestion by C.D. Temple, who was Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Protectorate in 1914 when Nigeria was created. He suggested that Nigeria should be divided into seven regions, the Lagos Colony being one of the regions. Conversely, the Governor-General of Nigeria, Sir F.D. Lugard, rejected his suggestion. It was not until after the Second World War, during the process of decolonisation that the thought of dividing Nigeria into regions or states resurfaced on the political scene… With the creation of Lagos State on 27th May, 1967, the task of administering the state fell on Brigadier (then Colonel) Mobolaji Johnson, who had earlier been appointed the Administrator of Lagos before the State was created.”

    Danmole sheds light on the state’s divisions: “The military administration under Mobolaji Johnson issued an edict on 1st May, 1968 which divided the state into five divisions, namely Lagos, Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu and Epe. These administrative divisions represented, in our view, the old Lagos colony and province, and this perhaps explains the term IBILE, being the first letters of the names of the five administrative divisions.  Thus, the acronym IBILE signifies the long standing administration and socio-cultural relations which had existed among the divisions before, during and after colonial rule.”

    Speaking about the future of Lagos, Danmole argues:  “I make bold to say that the commitment which those in government have been giving to the state since it was created in 1967 has continued to give Lagos State a central position when compared with other states in the Federal Republic. The expanding economy of the state, the infrastructural growth and continued investment in human capital, will lead to the rapid growth of Lagos State in the future. The megacity that Lagos has become is a result of encouragement given to organised initiatives that contribute to social and economic development of the state. This must continue, if Lagos must be among the frontline megacities in the world.”

    It is interesting that Danmole emphasises the importance of planning for development. He says: “For Lagos to reach greater heights there must be adherence to development plans. Development plans assist governments to achieve their focus within a particular time frame. Furthermore, development plans allow for measurement of growth. Two examples will help to illustrate this point. Nigeria and India were almost at the same level of development in 1960, but India has left us behind because of her strict adherence to development plans. India is currently on her own 17th development plan. Also, Malaysia was behind Nigeria in terms of development some decades ago; however, through development plans, Malaysia has overtaken Nigeria. I do know that Lagos State is a part of a whole, but as a state, Lagos can show leadership for others to emulate.”

    It is inexcusable that this enlightening lecture is gathering dust.

  • Ambode, UNILAG VC advise workers on retirement

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has said the society should show compassion to retirees and senior citizens, “because they have sacrificed their yesterday for our today.”

    He said: “Those who retired from the Lagos State Public Service have invaluable experience. For this reason, we must appreciate them. We may or may not know the challenges they have faced in life, but they have definitely gained experience worth respecting and learning from.”

    The governor, represented by Establishments, Training and Pensions Commissioner Dr. Benson Akintola, said his administration understood and appreciated the role public servants played in governance.

    He spoke yesterday in Ikeja at the opening session of a training for directors and those close to retirement.

    The workshop tagged: “Planning for Retirement: Pension Reforms in the Lagos State Public Service”, was organised by the Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions and facilitated by Messrs. Human Capital Management & Solutions Ltd.

    Ambode said: “In order to attend to the needs of retirees, the government has approved a proposal to reach out to the retirees and impart to them, knowledge by experienced facilitators on how to cope with the challenges of retirement.”

    He said the seminar was organised for the civil servants and others in the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Teachers’ Establishment and Pensions Office (TEPO), parastatals and local governments, who would soon retire or have recently retired.

    The Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, said the training was important and timely.

    He said any worker who did not prepare for retirement would not have anything to fall back on later in life.

    Ogundipe hoped that with the way the government was planning for its workforce, none should suffer after retiring.

    He hailed the Ambode administration for the novel step.