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Tag: Sanwo Olu

  • Sanwo-Olu, Bode George, naval chiefs honour late Dame Rebecca Aikhomu

    Sanwo-Olu, Bode George, naval chiefs honour late Dame Rebecca Aikhomu

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party; Chief Bode George, top naval officers and other dignitaries paid glowing tributes to late Dame Rebecca Aikhomu, the widow of the late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu (former Chief of General Staff and Vice President of Nigeria) at a service of songs held in her honour.

    She died on Tuesday night, December 11, 2025, after a brief illness. Her passing occurred just a few months after she celebrated her 85th birthday in August 2025.

    The governor was represented by the Secretary to the State Government; Dr Abimbola Salu Hundeyin.

    Also in attendance were the Chief of Naval Staff; Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by the Admiral Superintendent Naval Dockyard Limited (ASNDL); Rear Admiral Ibrahim Shehu, retired Maj. General Ike Uwachukwu and the deceased’s son-in-law and the Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft; Commodore Paul Nimmyel amongst other senior officers.

    Children, grandchildren, friends and associates of the deceased took turns to recount her virtues, describing her as a woman of faith, compassion and service whose impact transcended her immediate family.

    In his homily, the officiating minister, Rev Abednego Okpala, urged the family and mourners to take solace in God, noting that life, though short and full of challenges, finds meaning in total submission to the will of God.

    Quoting from John chapter 14 verse 6, the cleric reminded the congregation of Christ’s assurance not to be troubled, stressing that troubles, including death, are an inevitable part of human existence. He also cited Job chapter 14 verse 1, which describes man’s life as brief and filled with trials.

    According to him, the true concern of life should not be death itself but how one lives before God, noting that joy and peace are found in trusting God amid life’s uncertainties.

    He identified total submission to God’s will as the first key to overcoming the vanity of life.

    “I want to share with us three things that will give us our victory over vanity in this world. Number one, a total submission to the will of God.

    “The truth is nobody here can say for sure that I can totally and perfectly know how to live life. Nobody here knows what happens in the next two minutes of my time here. Life is full of all manner of unexpected situations…

    “When all money and things you know are no longer safe, then you feel like all is lost. But you see there is one good reason why you have been suspended. So it says trust in the Lord with all your heart.

    “Lean not on your own understanding. It says in all your ways do what I command you. It says he will make your path walk straight.

    “It says to submit to the will of the Lord. So what I’m telling you here is to stay in the midst of God with yourself. And live for his name, for his purpose”, he said.

    He warned that speed without direction is dangerous and stressed that God’s word sanctifies and guides believers through life.

    The Reverend further reminded the congregation of the resurrection hope, stressing that everyone would give account of their lives before God, urging them to dedicate their time, talents and resources to the service of God.

    He noted that testimonies shared about Dame Aikhomu reflected a life committed to giving, adding that such deeds are what endure even after death.

    The service ended with prayers for the family and an altar call, as the cleric encouraged all present to fully surrender their lives to God and commit themselves to purposeful living.

  • Muslim leaders urge Sanwo Olu to restore historic Shitta Bey Mosque

    Muslim leaders urge Sanwo Olu to restore historic Shitta Bey Mosque

    Muslim leaders in Lagos have urged Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu to take the lead in restoring the historic 134 year-old Shitta Bey Mosque, following the fire that destroyed the iconic Islamic landmark on Lagos Island in December 2025.

    The appeal was made in a formal letter addressed to the governor and copied to the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, after the blaze razed the mosque alongside the Great Nigerian House and other buildings on Nnamdi Azikwe Street on December 24.

    Writing on behalf of the Jumu’atul Muslimeen Council, the Executive Council of the Lagos Central Mosque, and the Bashorun in Council of Olowogbowo Division, the Muslim leadership described the destruction of the mosque as a major cultural and historical loss to Lagos State and the wider Muslim Ummah in Nigeria.

    They said the Shitta Bey Mosque, also known as Moshalashi Shitta Bey, was not only a place of worship but a living monument that had anchored Islamic life, commerce and community on Lagos Island for over a century.

    The leaders noted that the mosque remained the main Ratibi mosque in the Lagos Island central business district, serving thousands of Muslim traders and worshippers who performed daily prayers there throughout the week.

    They expressed confidence that the restoration of the mosque to greater glory would be most effectively achieved if led directly by the governor and his administration, given the structure’s national heritage status and deep historical roots.

    Completed in 1891, the Shitta Bey Mosque was built entirely through the personal resources of Chief Muhammad Shitta Bey, formerly known as William Shitta, a renowned Lagos merchant, philanthropist and Islamic leader.

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    The ceremonial opening of the mosque took place on July 4, 1891, in the presence of the then colonial Governor Carter, alongside international dignitaries who represented the Sultan of Turkey and later conferred on Chief Shitta the prestigious title of Bey.

    In recognition of his contributions to Islam, Muslim elders in Lagos had earlier named him the first Seriki Musulumi of Lagos and later acknowledged him as Baba Ajo, a position equivalent to the present Baba Adinni.

    The mosque, admired for its Brazilian and Portuguese architectural influences, was later designated a national monument by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in recognition of its architectural, cultural and religious importance.

    Beyond the Shitta Bey Mosque, the appeal recalled Chief Shitta Bey’s role in reconstructing the Lagos Central Mosque in 1873, replacing its earlier mud structure with more durable materials and elevating it to a standard befitting its status at the time.

    The Muslim leaders described the Shitta Bey Mosque as a symbol of unity, sacrifice, philanthropy and enterprise, values they said defined the life and legacy of its founder and shaped the growth of Islam in Lagos.

  • Okpebholo and Sanwo-Olu

    Okpebholo and Sanwo-Olu

    It was an important visit. The Governor-elect of Edo State met with the BOS of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in Lagos. But what the new governor can learn from Lagos are many. The BOS said he would ply Monday Okpebholo with the state’s developmental template and the ideas to help him save Edo from the ruins of Obaseki.

    We can recall that Adams Oshiomhole did same once he became governor. He brought his team to understudy Lagos and borrowed ideas that could fit into the rise of the Niger Delta state. When he was done as governor, Adams became a model of development Obaseki pooh-poohed. The man derailed and went his own way, the way of pain and regret from the people.

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    When the new governor-elect heard the sounds of victory last week, one of his promises was to go back to the Adams project.

    That is all fine. He has something else to learn from the BOS, though. It is his ability to strike a balance between politics and governance, and he did it by working together with all the interests in the state’s politics. That was what plagued his predecessor. The BOS promised not to hark back to a time of division. He has managed the disparate forces who worked for his victory the first time. They liked him so much that they did not undermine his search for an encore. He is a sunny first citizen who governs without coattails of rancour.

    The incoming helmsman of Edo State must learn that. It took a potpourri of interests to make him governor, including Adams, Ize-Iyamu, Dan Orbih, et al. All of them would want influence. Although Oscar Wilde says “all influence is immoral,” for him not to kill the morale of his stewardship, he must learn to navigate big egos. It should not turn into pounds of flesh for him. it takes emotional intelligence to pursue that with success. The BOS of Lagos can teach him one or two about the Omoluabi spirit that helped him to do that.

  • Sanwo Olu greets COREN Assembly

    Sanwo Olu greets COREN Assembly

    Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Works, Adekunle Olayinka, has delivered Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s goodwill message to COREN Assembly.

    The Engineering Assembly: ‘Regulating Engineering Profession for Shared Prosperity in Nigeria, is holding in Abuja.

    Olayinka said the assembly is a forum for registered engineers, professionals and stakeholders to engage in development of the profession.

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    “The assembly provides a platform for networking and knowledge sharing to promote development of engineering in Nigeria,” he said.

    Participants, he noted. will gain from professional seminars, workshops and training to help engineers update their knowledge and skills.