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Tag: Ambode

  • ASUU to Ambode: Save LASU before it collapses

    Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called on Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who is the Visitor to the Lagos State University (LASU), to save the institution from imminent collapse by calling on the Vice Chancellor, Prof Olanrewaju Fagbohun to comply with the laws governing the institution.

    The union alleged that Fagbohun was aiding corruption by frustrating attempts to probe the alleged mismanagement of N1.3 billion NEEDS Assessment Fund (2013) allocation to the university under the immediate past administration.

    The union’s Coordinator, Lagos Zone, Prof. Olusiji Sowande, who addressed areporters in LASU on Tuesday, urged the government to  implement the Universities Miscellaneous Provisions Act, which the union signed with the Federal Government in 2009.

    At present, the unions said the Universities Miscellaneous (Provisions Act] 2009 as amended in 2012 and last year, in and known as LASU Law, allows members in the professorial cadre to retire at 70, recommends a single tenure of five years for vice chancellors. The union is, however, worried that the part that affects other top principals in the university were excluded. The union said it suspected management’s plan of renewing the appointments of top principals since that aspect had not yet been amended

    ‘’The (Universities Miscellaneous) law stipulates that the Registrar, Bursar and Librarian shall have a single term of five years; yet LASU continues to run a renewable tenure which is no doubt a potential flashpoint likely to heat up the polity sooner than later as other principal officers of the university conclude their tenure in May,2018,’’ ASUU said.

    Fagbohun also accused of refusing to appoint a Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), 18 months since he assumed duties in flagrant disregard of the LASU Law 2014 in Schedule 1  (Section 4{1).

    ‘’Professor Fagbohun has taken the quest for totalitarian powers to such a height that his decision of the Governing Council are now implemented in breach: One case is the decision of Council on the new conditions and scheme of service for junior and Senior members of staff adopted since Thursday, October 20,2006 at its 112th statutory meeting where it stated that the university administration should do the final editorial work within three week; but the question is: ‘are the three weeks still ongoing since October 2016 till date?’’’

    In his response however, management described the union’s allegations as untrue.

    The university’s Acting Head Information Unit Martin Adekoya said the administration had been most complaint with Council’s directive since it came on board in January, last year.

    “Let me tell you that those allegations are not true,” Adekoya told our reporter on the phone on Tuesday.

    He continued: “When Council gives a directive to management, do not forget that management will still has to delegate that responsibility, perhaps through committees or some organs that will report back to it. In the end, management will still report to the Council on what it has done about the directive so far.

    “Let me also say some of the academic staff are part of the Council. So, if management failed to comply with a directive, what have those members done at the level of the Council to ensure the management complies?

    “On the five-year single term for other principal officers, let me say categorically that there is no official paper or document backing that for now.

    “I remember that during the immediate past administration, ASUU lobbied its way to the Lagos State House of Assembly to agitate for one single term of five years for vice chancellor which was eventually approved by the governor. If they (ASUU) want same for other principals, they should return to the House of Assembly, which has the statutory right to grant their request by amending that aspect of LASU Law; and until that is done, those serving in that capacity now are still eligible to contest.”

  • Ambode swears-in new LASIEC Commissioners, Safety Commission DG, others

    Ambode swears-in new LASIEC Commissioners, Safety Commission DG, others

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday swore-in two Commissioners of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), and members of the Public Procurement Agency and Audit Service Commission.

    The governor also swore-in the Director-General of the state’s Safety Commission and inaugurated the Lagos State Science and Innovation Council.

    He enjoined the new appointees to add value to the corporate governance, growth and all round development of the state.

    The newly sworn-in members include Prof Gabriel Olatunde Babawale and Dr Noah Olanrewaju Lawal-Jinadu as Commissioners of LASIEC; Mr. Bolaji Miftah Are, Mrs Iyabo Elizabeth Ladipo and Mr Ayo Adebusoye for the Public Procurement Agency; Mrs Jokotola Ojosipe-Ogundimu for Audit Service Commission and Mr. Hakeem Dickson as the Lagos State Safety Commission DG.

    At the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja where the event took place, the governor said the appointments were strictly informed by the track record of achievements, integrity and credibility of the members.

    He urged the appointees to see their appointment as an invitation and a privilege to be part of the future prosperity of the state.

    “Your appointment is a call to public service and I am very confident that you will justify the trust the government has reposed in your ability and capacity to add value to the corporate governance, growth and development of the State.

    “Let me also add that your appointment is an invitation and a privilege to be part of history as we lay a solid foundation for the future of Lagos, a Lagos that our children and their children will enjoy for many years to come,” the governor said.

    He said the Public Procurement Agency and Audit Service Commission are two key agencies established mainly to ensure transparency and accountability in the procurement process as well as the management and application of public resources, urging the newly appointees to bring their professionalism to bear to deepen the application of these principles to ensure that the tax-paying public get full value for their money.

    He urged the safety commission DG to show leadership and deliver on the mandate of the commission to prepare and adequately handle emergency situations through continuous public education and enlightenment as well as enforcement of safety precautions and rules.

    Prof Babawale, who responded on behalf of other appointees, assured the governor that he and his colleagues would key into his vision to make Lagos a Smart City.

    “We would cherish it very seriously and deliver on our mandate. This is a call to duty and we are prepared for the task,” Babawale said.

    In a related development, Ambode while inaugurating the Lagos State Research and Innovation Council chaired by Deputy-Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, urged members of the council to bring their wealth of experience to bear on the efforts of the government to harness the full potentials of scientific research in developing solutions to challenges facing the state.

    Ambode said application of scientific innovation remained the key to achieving efficiency, effectiveness and accelerated development in a knowledge–driven economy.

    The terms of reference of the Council among others are to manage the science research and innovation Fund which would be applied towards funding research that have the potentials to directly benefit the citizenry in terms of job and wealth creation.

    Other members of the Council are Adenike Fajemirokun, Akeem Adeniji-Adele, Oladokun Oye, Dr Frank Ojadi, Prof Martins Aneiekhai and Mr Sikiru Adegoke. Others representing Lagos State in the council are Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Olawale Oluwo; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs Olufunmilayo Balogun and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Adesina Odeyemi.

  • Eid-il- fitri: Ambode fetes Muslims

    Eid-il- fitri: Ambode fetes Muslims

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will fete Muslims in 20 local government areas in the state in celebration of the Eid-il-fitri.

    Devotees will be hosted at various designated centres Agege, Ajegunle, Abesan, Amuwo Odofin, Apapa, Badagry, Epe, Eti-Osa, Ibeju Lekki, Mushin and Ifako-Ijaiye among others.

    A statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs said the programme was part of initiatives to identify with the Muslims and encourage peaceful cohabiting and religious tolerance.

    “It should be noted that at end of every Ramadan, the First Family in the State, had been hosting Muslims to Eid-il-Fitri Get-Together, in the State House, Ikeja, but the Administration of Ambode is decentralising the hosting ceremony to the grassroots, to cover all 20 Local Government Areas, to enable as many Lagosian Muslims as possible get involved and be part of the celebration.

    “Governor Ambode, while extending Special Greetings to fasting Muslims, remarks that occasions like this, gives his administration the opportunity to reach out and venerate with Muslims, Christians and other faith-based devotees during their respective special and holy days, and that the state’s participation, identification and involvement during religious festivals is another ways of projecting hospitality, concord and love that Lagosians are noted for. He enjoins all Lagosians to keep on praying for the state and continue to celebrate one another’s differences so as to strengthen their cherished unity.

    “Governor Ambode restated his commitment to inclusive governance, that always strive to involve and carry along in the state affairs, all religious groups, irrespective of affiliations, denominations and interests,” the statement said.

     

  • Osinbajo, Ambode for Chartered Arbitrators’ conference

    Acting President Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) will deliver the keynote address at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria (NICARB) 2017 Annual Conference.

    NICARB Registrar/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shola Oshodi-John said Osinbajo will be joined by Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, who will give the welcome address.

    The event will hold between June 21 and 22 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Speaking at the weekend, Oshodi-John stated that the conference’s theme is: ‘Enhancing foreign direct investments through Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).’

    She said: “The event will provide an opportunity for businesses, legal practitioners and other professionals to discuss the roles of arbitration in attracting foreign direct investment to the country.

    “More specifically, it will serve as a platform for positioning ADR as a preferred method for the speedy and efficient resolution of commercial and business disputes in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region.”

    According to her, experts from the academia, judiciary, public and private sector will serve as speakers/discussants.

    The ‘over 1,700 members’ of NICARB are expected at the conference.

  • Ambode: All clear for airport road project

    On Wednesday, May 31, acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, ended the controversy between Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and his predecessor, now Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, when he granted the latter the permission to go ahead with the total reconstruction of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), road in Lagos.

    Those who have followed the development, would recall how Ambode, on March 8, cried out to the whole world about how the minister, was practically constituting a stumbling block to the road project, one of the components of his vision to make Lagos stand at par with other mega cities of the world.

    Of course, Fashola, in his counter, with behind-the-scene engagements between Abuja and Lagos, depicted the governor as being economical with the truth, insisting that it was the need to go through the full process that caused the delay and not other sinister motive(s) as Ambode implied.

    Well, other bits and pieces, odds and ends that followed thereof, not only went further to emphasise that all was not well with and within the camps of the two very significant and highly relevant personalities of the Lagos politics, but that the said road, was going to be a victim of the ostensible mortal feud.

    Even with the later-day photo-ops of smiling faces of the two during subsequent meetings, many people still found it hard believing there is a significant thaw in their apparent frosty relationship.

    That Fashola, was virtually missing in action, during the events that commemorated the 50th anniversary of Lagos State, when he was supposed to be one of the visible figures, only went to emphasise, the half-empty narrative, with the concomitant interpretation that the project was still caught in the crossfire of the fight of the elephants.

    Perhaps, it might even be true that both have since truly mended fences, after that first apparent public spat, thus, leaving leave everything else in the domain of mere conjectures. But what cannot be regarded as such is the implication of the intervention of the acting President.

    Ambode, had told his audience at the press conference that he had gathered enough money to get the project going and completed in record time and only needed the approval to get on.

    Now, only those not conversant with the said road would be lost on what reconstructing it in the manner the governor suggests would imply. This is a stretch that could constitute a significant distress if not a fatal end for the uninitiated. For a motorist exiting the airport, a single mistake, made in a matter split-second-decision at the maze of its intersections, had actually led to a sort of point-of-no-return in some cases.

    Some of the victims, had actually found themselves at Mile 2, in which case it took them some hours to make a simple U-turn or even as farther as Apapa, where, having been unlucky to get caught in its legendry gridlocks, they spent a whole day to correct the error.

    Now, this is what Ambode wants to remedy, with his enticing option of a complete reworking, not only in concept, but in the actual facilities on ground.

    Hear the governor: “The state currently has a design of 10 lanes from Oshodi to the International Airport with interchange and flyover that would drop towards the local airport. The contractor is set to go and everything as I said has been completed and we already have the cash, but alas we are having challenges with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. This is a Federal and not a state road. The Federal Ministry of Works believes that they should do the road, but they have not been able to do it all these years past.”

    The fact that the governor has completed similar projects in the last two years, is a demonstrable evidence, which naturally would inspire confidence that the airport road might not be a mirage stirred by politics. Such projects like the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu link bridge at Mosan in Alimosho, the Ajah Roundabout connecting bridge and the Abule-Egba Bridge, as well as the Berger corridors, done within the period, readily come to the fore.

    Much has also been said about the quality of the said projects, meant not only to solve the age-long legendry Lagos traffic, but ensuring that they meet the standards of the governor’s idea of a mega-city.

    In fact, the complete illumination on these roads, one of its major features has ensured that Lagos is today, the only city outside Abuja, the Federal Capital City (FCT) where motorists could conveniently drive at night in virtually all the major roads without headlights, as seen in other developed nations of the world.

    Naturally, when Ambode is cited in some quarters as one of the stars that signpost the change mantra of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in real and positive terms, many hardly begrudge him, as these landmark projects come into view.

    Osinbajo’s intervention, therefore, should be a jolt in the arm to the governor in his bid to transform the state. It also strikes a chord that will change the music in terms of people’s expectation that the governor would hit the ground soon.

    Indeed, it is a tempting option for many Nigerians to take sides with the governor were he to continue feuding with his predecessor for the singular reason that Lagos does not only enjoy a special status as a mini-Nigeria, where virtually all citizens maintain one link or the other, but a veritable international player, through which Nigeria is measured in the eyes of many foreign countries.

    That Osinbajo, has cured the dog-in-manger factor in airport road project, assuming there was one, is therefore a significant development, but one to be applauded.

    Incidentally, no one person has been able to build a country, or in this case, a state alone. The best such individual efforts have achieved, for which they enjoy their specific space in history, is to produce and provide the architecture and mechanism.

    For the Lagos governor, the situation becomes even more pointed that he does not enjoy the latitude or longevity in office of the likes of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, Malaysia’s Prime Mahathir bin Mohamad or the autocracy and iron-fist character of South Korea’s Park Chung-hee, with which they brought about the transformation of their countries into modern day giants.

    He has just six out of his eight years remaining through which he must accomplish his dream Lagos or step aside to watch. Within this period, he could actually put the state on such a galloping pedestal that the mega city project would emerge quicker and irreversibly, or stand aside and watch at the mercy of his successor what comes next.

    Much suggests that the governor’s cup for now is actually half-full rather than half-empty. By the time the airport road project is added to the list of what is already in the kitty, there is no doubt that even if the mega city project is not achieved in full, he would have successfully nailed all the planks together to form a platform for its foundation or even erect the permanent structure, which would only need mere paintworks or shining to complete.

    There is no reason to suspect any negative change in the picture as events unfold within the remaining period, if things do not go significantly awry outside what the governor could manage.

     

    • Igboanugo, a journalist, writes from Abuja.

     

  • We shall rescue abducted pupils, Ambode vows

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has assured parents and  Lagosians of his administration’s committment to security of every child in the state.

    Ambode spoke last week at the grand finale of the Lagos State Schools Governor’s Quiz Competition.

    He spoke against the backdrop of a 14-day ultimatum issued during a protest by parents of the six abducted pupils of Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, at the Government House. The pupils were abducted by gunmen at the school premises three weeks ago.

    The gunmen, who also took the principals of both junior and senior secondary schools with the pupils, have contacted the victims’ parents, demanding N1 billion ransom which has been scaled down to N100 million. However, the parents are pleading that the ransom is beyond their reach.

    The governor, while identifying with the victims’ parents, assured that the pupils would be brought back unscathed. “Let me assure you that the government is working round the clock to ensure the release of the abducted students of Model College, Igbonla. We empathise with the students and parents and we will not relent in our efforts until the students come back unhurt to continue their education. We will not allow any group of people to distract us from our goal of educating all Lagos children and equipping them for the future,”Ambode said.

    At the ninth edition of the event, which held at the Adeyemi Bero auditorium, Alausa, Lagos State Model College, Kankon, beat Alimosho Senior Grammar School and Jubilee Model Senior Grammar School to the second and third positions respectively.

    The junior secondary school (JSS) and primary schools category saw Eko Junior College and Darocha Primary Schools emerging first and second runners up respectively.

    Ambode, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Adesina Odeyemi, congratulated the winners.

    He recalled that the competition at the inception was designed to develop pupils’ mind by creating healthy rivalry among children in public schools in the state.

    “This quiz competition has over the years produced many very brilliant students, who have gone ahead to study various courses in tertiary institutions. It has broadened the horizon of participants from the preliminary levels to the finals, including the spectators and many other people who learnt from the competition,”he said.

    Education sector in the state, according to him, received N205.8billion in 2016 and 2017 budgets in spite of the stiff competition for resource allocation.

    “What the government has invested in the education sector of the state in the last two years is more than the annual budget of about 23 states of the federation. In fact, it is more than the 2017 budget of some four states put together,” Ambode said.

    To encourage students break new grounds, he said, Lagos has unveiled a digital library to ensure access to education and the continued development of the children in the state, advising children to devote more time to their studies.

    Speaking earlier, Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, who was represented by the Director, Co-curricular, Mrs. Babs Akinyeye, observed that the quality of the competition has continued to grow as it progressed, praising participants’ exemplary brilliance.

    “The standard of questions that were posted to the pupils/students and the ease with which they answered them was a testimony to the quality of education that we provide in the state,” she said.

  • Ambode: Celebrating ‘Product of the Coconut’at 54

    Ambode: Celebrating ‘Product of the Coconut’at 54

    It is always a herculean task to write tributes to your boss on his birthday, not for want of what to write, but for misconception of readers who may accuse you of being too patronising. As a matter of fact, there is no way a leader, mentor and boss like Ambode will not be celebrated on his natal day to let people know the humane side of him hidden from the public.

    Many have read and watched events marking Lagos at 50 and two years of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode in the saddle, so they are aware of what he has done in the area of Social Development and Security, Infrastructure, Economic Development and Sustainable Environment.

    I, however, owe it a duty to let the public know certain qualities which make him thick and propel him into changing the face of Lagos from a mega city to a smart city in just two years. Ambode is not a run-of-the-mill politician, but a thoroughbred professional who has an undying passion for the job. His daily itinerary shows he is more than prepared for the job and the result is what we are witnessing in Lagos today.

    As James Allen More noted, “work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that right thoughts and right efforts will inevitably bring about right results”. This is an apt description of Ambode, a workaholic. I wonder many times where he gets the strength.

    He hardly sleeps and so are his aides who he can call at any time of the day and night for an urgent assignment, especially when he embarks on inspection of projects, ensuring security agents are alive to their duties or/and ensuring the streetlights, one of his signature achievements, are on.

    Ambode moves about most nights to certain parts of Lagos and whatever black spot he discovers is addressed almost immediately. So once everybody knows that the Governor will personally monitor, they do their bits as diligently as practicable. All the projects he has executed so far are products of a well thought out idea though he invites others to make inputs.

    His day starts as early as 6am when he usually wakes having stayed up working till about 3am and sometimes, he may have just returned from inspection of projects around the city.  He usually flips through online editions of the newspapers and then the print editions, before setting out to act on matters concerning citizens of the state.

    What worried the governor most in his early days in office was the traffic gridlock especially, on Third Mainland Bridge, (inward Lagos in the morning), and Apapa road. This usually takes him out to personally assess the situation and he may not come back to the office until as late as 6pm in the evening. He discovered that the Apapa gridlock was caused by the arbitrary parking of trucks on both sides on the road and the abandoned pedestrian bridge.

    The road, which belongs to the federal government, has been neglected for a long time but just like the way he is addressing other bad spots in the city, the governor had to last year order the State Public Works to move in for a quick fix of the road. And due to his persistent request, approval was recently given by the federal government to the state to reconstruct the much expected Oshodi-expressway to the International Airport.

    One day, the Commissioner for Information, Steve Ayorinde and I left the governor at around 1:00am and we agreed to meet him by 9:30am later same day so that he will go through his speech which he was to use in his address to the state scheduled for 11:00am. To our surprise, the Governor was in the office as early as 6:30am to prepare his speech himself; he only gave it to us to proof read when we got there at 9:30am! Such is the nature of Governor Ambode who has an uncommon passion for the job.

    Another hidden side of Governor Ambode is the milk of human kindness running in his blood. He is generous to a fault. You cannot be a staff of Governor Ambode or his wife and be sad except the issue is not brought to their notice! He is somebody who has so demystified governance that things that were hitherto insurmountable become easy. You need to drive through the Third Mainland Bridge to Ketu/Alapere during rush hours to understand the marvel and the way he thinks. Or do you want to talk about the hundreds of roads that have been fixed; the two flyovers that were completed in record time and the palpable feeling around town that the state is moving in the right direction.

    In truth, this milk of human kindness stretches to those in need of any assistance and it’s brought to the notice of the governor or if he saw it himself when glancing through the papers. He would immediately intervene, putting smiles on their faces, but with a stern warning that his identity must not be revealed. I have always been in a difficult position to keep hiding this from those who are hell-bent in expressing their gratitude.

    For sure, what has helped Ambode in his current job as governor is his wealth of experience having served in the state civil service for 27 years. A first class material who rose through the ranks and retired as the Accountant General of the state, Ambode has lived in most slum areas of the city, including Ajegunle and he knows most interior parts of Lagos like the back of his hand. This much he used during his campaign in 2015, when he told Lagosians that his experience would work for them. He stunned the people of Ajegunle during an event recently when he mentioned all the roads in Ajegunle and how they interlinked and the ones that should be done urgently and they all agreed with him.

    And what has shaped his personality and made him so unassuming is his very humble background which enabled him to know what suffering means. Though many successful people today were also from humble backgrounds and are heartless, Ambode usually says, “the only way I can continue to show gratitude to God for his mercy and favour over me is to assist as many people as possible not as Governor alone but in my personal capacity”. He has indeed kept that promise.

    Growing up in Ebute-Metta part of Lagos like any other young lad of that time in the 60s, he imbibed the culture of hard work, diligence and perseverance from his parents. A brilliant and well behaved child, Ambode, early in life discovered that a man’s destiny is in his own hands so he set a goal for himself and he set out to achieve that goal. Today, he is a success story in every way.

    An astute administrator and a team leader, Ambode is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management. As this product of the ‘coconut’, ala Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s protégé, celebrates his birthday today, I join other teeming Lagosians to wish him a happy birthday and pray that God grant him more strength and wisdom in his service to the state and our country.

     

     

    • Aruna is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ambode.
  • Ambode –the coconut philosopher at 54

    Ambode –the coconut philosopher at 54

    The intriguing fact that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode is celebrating his 54th birthday today, June 14, as the 14th governor of the Centre of Excellence, Lagos is no mere coincidence. It is divinely ordained; piloted by the hand of God! That indeed, underscores the significance of the noble role one’s personal relationship with God plays in shaping his destiny. This raises the salient questions: Could he have fathomed that he would clinch the elusive status of becoming a chartered accountant at the tender age of 24? Of course, not. Could he also have dreamt about the feat of clinching the number one citizenship of the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, back in his teenage days? Not in his wildest imagination.

    Here was a young man who was written off by his concerned uncle, at an early age. That was when he expressed his desire to becoming an accountant, in response to the question about his dream profession.” No, Akin, you are too playful, too un-ambitious to become one. You better think of something else”, the man had laughed him to the point of scorn.

    But by a twist of immanent fate and more like Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin, who were similarly written off in their youth, Ambode has gone ahead and broken the jinx!  Newton was derided by his class teacher that he, “would never amount to someone of substance”. Einstein was described by his Chemistry teacher as a nonentity. Darwin was told off by his own father that he would be better off as hunter of rats and rabbits! But none of them gave up.

    While Newton, now regarded as the Father of Physics defied his teacher to discover the gravitational force and Einstein gave the world the Theory of Relativity and was unanimously voted TIME Magazine’s Man of the 20th Century, Darwin broke the rules with the ground-breaking evolution phenomenon. In a similar vein, Ambode has today become not just the governor of Lagos State, the 5th largest economy in Africa but is widely acclaimed as one standing tall, head and shoulders above his peers. As Bruce Lee (of blessed memory), had once admonished, “great people turn their stumbling blocks into stepping stones”. From it they climb to higher heights, just like our ever amiable, humble, focused and highly determined governor has done. That is life for you and a lesson for all.

    Indeed, the hand of God guiding Ambode’s life has been most instructive and inspiring. For instance, when the Ibrahim Babangida regime liberalized the banking sector, the young Ambode, then fully qualified as a Chartered Accountant, saw that policy as a golden opportunity to make his mark in the private sector. He was enthusiastic about it. He was thrilled and passionate as he junketed from one bank to the other. But surprisingly, not one of them employed him? Did he fail their interviews? Not at all. So, what was really happening? Unknown to him the all-knowing God had a different career path well cut out for him.

    He too had a change of heart. If the private sector was not the one for him, so be it. Ambode focused on his civil service. He took off from Lagos Waste Management Board (LAWMA) to Badagry LGA as an auditor. The chequered journey spanning 27 years took him from there to Kosofe, Alimosho, Ojo, Mushin, Shomolu and some others, numbering 13 out of 20 LGAs. He was either an auditor or accountant, eventually rising to the enviable post of the accountant-general of the state. What was unique about this was the fact that he became that below the age of 50. Again, like most great achievers, it seems Ambode is one born to break the rules. The rest, as they say is history and an interesting one at that.

    Or, how do we explain the situation that Ambode was just four years old when the state was created? What about being in the saddle as the governor when it recently celebrated 50, seen as a celebration of freedom and jubilee? This follows the Biblical dictum that: “Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings. They will not serve before officials of low rank”. (Prov. 22:29).

    The hand of God is therefore, evident in all the remarkable achievements made so far in the sub-sectors of the economy such as higher inflow of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), unprecedented in the history of Lagos State, massive infrastructural development, transportation, education, and healthcare delivery. What about food security, employment generation and internal security? Despite the challenges, he is squaring up to them with a lion heart, all because God is with him. “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom 8: 28).

    Another significant factor that has seen to the governor’s success is being blessed with a sound, strong and solid family of his own. Both he and Bolanle, his loving wife have their lives firmly rooted in God.  Both of them seem to be made for themselves by God as they both born at Epe General Hospital. She is there as a pillar of support and as one who has stood by him through thick and thin. Unknown to  many, she is   an epitome of humility, as manifested in how effectively she treated Ambode’s support team before, during and after the campaigns for the governorship in 2015. Even as the First Lady of the state, she has carried herself with dignity.

    When translated to the public service, such exemplary passion for wife and children, unqualified humility, dedication to God and duty, courage, candour and loyalty will continue to see the state rising to heights of more laudable achievements. As he rightly noted in his speech at the birthday of the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he too has become a blossoming symbolic coconut, imbued with tremendous attributes of all the parts, useful to mankind as food and a unique plant with healing powers. He is a God-sent leader for now and the future. For a man who has no iota of betrayal in his DNA whose youthful energy is fully focused on fulfilling his party’s vision for the state, Ambode is set to score more goals.

    I, therefore, wish my boss, mentor, leader and our beacon bearer 54 hearty cheers and more glorious years in the service of Lagos, God and Mankind.

     

    • Ajanaku, is Senior Special Assistant to Lagos State governor on Media & Strategy.
  • Restructuring takes centre stage on June 12

    Restructuring takes centre stage on June 12

    Lagos State GovernorAkinwumiAmbode and former Military Administrator Rear Admiral Ndubusi Kanu (rtd) yesterday stressed the need for Nigerians to uphold democratic values.

    They spoke at a symposium organised by the government in conjunction with June 12 Coalition of Democratic Formations to mark the 24th anniversary of June 12 annulled election acclaimed to have been won by late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

    The governor, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Mrs. Idiat Adebule, said the commemoration of the day has strengthened the need for the citizens to remain committed and steadfast in upholding democratic principles.

    He said suchdemocratic principles include voter’s registration, voting for the candidate of choice at the polls and avoiding anything that could disrupt peaceful conduct of free, fair and credible election.

    Ambode added that memory of June 12 and the events that followed would remain evergreen in Nigeria’s political history, being a process through which Abiola and others laid down their lives in a bid to actualise the popular will of the people expressed through the ballot box.

    He said the seed of the Fourth Republic being enjoyed was sown and watered by the blood of men and women who were cut down in their prime, adding that their memories would be honoured until the end of time.

    The governor acknowledgedthat the June 12 struggle was waged by Abiola, members of his family and pro-democracy groups, particularly the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), students, trade unions and Nigerians.

    Ambode said it was a thing of joy that by the collective efforts of government and people, Lagos State, over the years, has kept alive the yearnings and aspirations of the people as expressed on June 12, 1993.

    He said his administration also embraced Town Hall meeting approach to create avenue for numerous stakeholders and the people to air their opinions and suggest a way forward for the state.

    Ambode added that wealth creation and job creation strategies were also adopted with focus on entrepreneurial activities to expose youths and the people to numerous skills to make them either employable or self-employed.

    On his part, Kanu drew attention to agitations from parts of the country.

    He said former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu incubated the state’s developmental agenda and it was advanced by his successor, BabatundeFashola.

    Ashiru added that the incumbent governor is expanding and consolidating the vision of development in a seamless, ingenious and brilliant manner.

    One of the sons of late Abiola,Mr. Mumuni Abiola, lauded Lagos State and other Southwest states for keeping the memory and legacy of his father alive.

    Special Adviser to Ambode on Civic Engagement Mr. Kehinde Joseph, whose ministry organised the event, said June 12 was worthy of commemoration as it remained a defining moment of the nation’s democratic dispensation.

  • Ambode urges firms to accept NYSC members

    Ambode urges firms to accept NYSC members

    Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode has urged corporate establishments to accept National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to them.

    The governor spoke yesterday at the passing out of 2,577 members of Batch “A” Stream 1 of the Corps who completed their orientation course in the state.

    Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter Governmental Relations, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, congratulated the Corps members on the successful completion of the orientation course.

    The governor advised them to apply diligence, tolerance, perseverance and leadership skills they acquired during the orientation course to their daily activities.

    Oladejo, who doubles as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the NYSC in the state, said Ambode expected that “Corps members would channel their energies towards activities that would enhance economic growth and national development”.

    He added: “Nigeria can only be transformed when you channel your energies towards activities that will enhance economic growth and national development. You are, therefore, expected to use your training to impact the community and develop your individual potentials.”

    NYSC State Coordinator Mohamed Momoh, who attested to the high level of discipline among the Corps members during the orientation period, said their experiences would bring out the best in them as they discharge their duties during the national service and beyond.

    Momoh described the Corps members as job creators and not job seekers.

    The state coordinator said the skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development programme they got during camping were major components of the orientation course.

    He urged them to take advantage of the various platforms the scheme put in place to get start-up capital from credit-granting institutions.

    Momoh listed such institutions as the State Employment Trust Fund, Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which he said grant business credit at zero or low interest rates to Corps members.