Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu walks his talk with aplomb and action. He believes that for Lagos State to sustain its Centre of Excellence status in the country and beyond, vital infrastructure must be built across all sectors because of its critical role in achieving economic and human capital development. He once said that from the ancient Roman Empire to the super economic powers of the 21st Century, “The economic impact that infrastructure improvement has on nation-building cannot be overemphasised and it has been demonstrated that no nation can accomplish true greatness without evolving pragmatic strategies for long-term infrastructural development.”
Yet, for a tenure that has been rocked by the coronavirus pandemic with the attendant lockdowns and uncertainties; and the devastating aftermaths of the #EndSARS protests, Governor Sanwo-Olu remains focused and fastidious about renewing and rebuilding public infrastructure to enable and enthrone a prosperous economy for all.
Interestingly, when he started espousing his ‘For a Greater Lagos’ mantra anchored on the ingenious T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda (Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, Entertainment and Tourism, Security and Governance), it sounded like another fancy buzzword or mere sophistry by a typical politician. However, at different fora before and after his inauguration as the governor of Lagos State, he reiterates his promise to work for the greater good of the people and the state. It is not surprising, therefore that he is breaking his back, literally, to achieve this and more.
Indeed, if there was any doubt about his capacity and commitment to resolving the seemingly intractable problems besetting the state; that doubt has been comprehensively eroded with his cornucopia of achievements. From housing to health, transportation to tourism, and agriculture and education, among other sectors, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s prodigious imprint is visible and vast. And, in retrospect, it bears asserting without equivocation that Lagos is no longer what it was two years ago. Now, there is a new dawn filled with faith, fervour and fortitude.
He may not, yet, be getting the deserved accolades for how he has shown leadership in a time of global crisis and how he is turning the fortunes of Lagos around, what is most important is that the governor is steadily and assuredly bequeathing a prosperous and progressive Lagos to this generation and posterity. History will be kind to him and his team.
Happy 56th birthday to Mr Governor!
–Oyetayo, a PR practitioner, sent this piece from Lagos