By Jide Olaniran
Everything rises and falls on the leadership. And that a greater Lagos is rising in leaps and bounds is a reflection of how the first citizen has been able to steer the ship in the direction of greatness.
Lagos, our governor is 60! The man who took over the mantle of leadership about six years ago. It’s been six impactful years of leadership for Mr. Sellable. I’m talking about the man who came with an agenda and, like the biblical verse — “write the vision, make it plain, so those who read it can run with it” — under Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the state has been running with the THEMES + agenda and it has been so far so good experience .
Today, I am sparing a thought for the man who came prepared for the job, the man who made the job of administering a megacity look so attractive despite its demanding nature. His dedication and work ethics are noticed even by his strongest critics, who have come to realise that he is a perfect example of how an illustrious career in the private sector can prepare one for an exceptional leadership impact in the public sector.
As I reflect on how impactful his leadership has being with two of the pillars of his THEMES + agenda — education and technology — by highlighting a few of them. Mr. Governor has indeed done very well.
For example, the EKOEXCEL, which is Excellence in Child Education and Learning, inaugurated by Mr. Governor in 2019.The innovative educational reform initiative has transformed public primary education in the state significantly by leveraging on technology and data-driven strategies to enhance teaching methodologies, monitor learning outcomes and ensure accountability. Over 13,000 teachers have been trained and Lagos pupils have performed exceptionally in examinations conducted by the National Examination Council of Nigeria. In the last six years, about 18,912 mobile learning devices have been distributed to secondary school students across the six education districts in the state.
By reviving the Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools, which was created under the then Governor Bola Tinubu, the committee has embarked on an infrastructural revolution of primary and secondary schools across the six education districts as about 1,290 classrooms blocks have been constructed while about 4,000 is ongoing.
Sanwo-Olu has shown to be a rewarder of diligence and hard work having consistently rewarded outstanding teachers in the state with SUVs, and the best graduating students of tertiary institutions with N10 million.
There is also the BOS Education City coming up inside the Ajegunle area of Ajeromi- Ifelodun Local Government Area, an unprecedented learning community in the whole of West Africa,which comprises 16 senior secondary, 15, junior secondary and five primary schools. And it will cater for about 20,000 students.
What is education in this age without technology? In its pursuit of a transforming Lagos into a Smart City, the Sanwo-Olu administration funded about 80 innovative start ups in agric-tech, e-commerce and retail, fintech, climate change, circular economy and various other verticals between 2020 and 2024. They were all founded by youths in the state through Lagos State Science Research and Innovation Council.
A N1 billion seed funding was set aside to help early stage start ups incubate, while other innovation-driven enterprises benefitted from the ‘Lagos Innovates’ programme. Not forgetting how the state is integrating all sectors of the economy and promoting financial inclusion through the use of Lagos Travel Card, which can be used for transportation, shopping, etc.
As we celebrate the man who keeps pushing the envelope uponattaining his Diamond Jubilee, he has truly earned a place in Lagos’ future and history for his signpost projects that will continue to put the city on the global market of remarkable feats.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Governor, posterity will continue to be kind to you as an Omoluabi.