The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday charged the 38 newly sworn-in commissioners and special advisers in the state to prepare for the challenges ahead, saying the development of Lagos depends on their dedication and positive attitude to work.
In his speech during the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday, Sanwo-Olu said: “Be prepared to pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, and support or oppose whomever you must, in order to accomplish our grand ambition of building one of the great cities of the 21st Century, a beacon of social, commercial and political excellence for the rest of our dear nation.”
Below is a full text of the Governor’s remarks at the swearing-in of Commissioners And Special Advisers at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja:
Protocol,
With the swearing-in of 38 new Commissioners and Special Advisers who will assist me in discharging the functions of the Executive arm as members of the State Executive Council, I gladly welcome these men and women who shall valiantly lead this new administration to realize its vision for a Greater Lagos.
It is with much pride that I congratulate the new Commissioners and Special Advisers on your well-deserved appointments. It is a testament to your capacity, your accomplishments and your track record of hard work, commitment, dedication and professionalism in your private and public endeavors. Today, you are inducted into a singular administration, unique in its diversity – both of heritage and of creed – made up of technical and politically skilled men and women who understand the challenges of our State, grasp the grand vision of this new administration, and are sensitive to the yearnings of our people, the citizens of Lagos State whom we must ultimately serve.
Let me use this opportunity to appreciate and commend the Legislative arm under the able leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa for presiding over a swift and decisive screening and confirmation process.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, in my inaugural address on 29th May, I declared that “our ultimate goal would be to ensure that Lagos State remains one of the top destinations on the African continent to live, work and invest in”. Let me emphasize that this is not just our goal, it is what the people expect from us and we cannot afford to disappoint them.
Fortunately for us, we have a foundation from which to build from. The Blueprint for a new Lagos and the Development Plan (2012 to 2025) are still relevant as strategic reference materials for a systematic implementation of medium and long-term policies in line with the overall vision for our State.
However, in this administration, our task must be to accelerate the trajectory of growth and development of Lagos State embarked upon by the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and built upon by successive administrations.
I am happy to note that the Deputy Governor and I, as well as some of you have had the honor and privilege of being part of that process. Today, Providence has entrusted us with the great responsibility of ensuring that the vision of the blueprint and the Development Plan comes to pass wholly and completely.
Upon the foundations laid by administrations past, we shall erect our six pillars of state development, encapsulated in the acronym “T.H.E.M.E.S.” T standing for Traffic Management and Transportation; H for Health and Environment; E for Education and Technology; M for Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy; E for Entertainment and Tourism and lastly S for Security and Governance.
These pillars form the backbone of this administration’s grand objective and represent the framework that ensures our efforts and allocation of resources are solely devoted to building a Lagos we can be proud to call home.
As you prepare for the challenges ahead, let me remind you that your appointment is a unique privilege and a call to service. It must not be seen as opportunity for self-service. Whilst discharging the responsibility that will be assigned to you, you must imbibe our culture of transparency, accountability, fairness and value for money.
I therefore Implore you to earnestly commit yourselves to the agenda and vision of this administration.
Be prepared to pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, and support or oppose whomever you must, in order to accomplish our grand ambition of building one of the great cities of the 21st Century, a beacon of social, commercial and political excellence for the rest of our dear nation.
The challenges we face as a mega city whether in the areas of security, waste management, transportation, or environmental sustainability are not peculiar to us. But they are the undesired consequences of an ambitious and growing economy providing opportunities for people to realize their dreams. But they must surely be addressed before they undermine our achievements and hinder our progress.
Great opportunities for employment and wealth creation can only be realized sustainably if we are able to enhance governance with creativity, innovation and technology while embracing collaboration with the private sector and continual dialogue and partnership with all relevant stakeholders.
This is the task we have been called upon to undertake in the next four years on behalf of our people who are relying on us to support their dreams and aspirations.
I charge you to show commitment, diligence and exemplary leadership as the necessary virtues needed to achieve the greatness we desire for our State and to deliver the prosperity our people deserve.
Once again, I congratulate you on your appointment and implore you to give your all as the very minimum requirement in service of this great State and its people.
As I end this address, I wish to reassure Lagosians of our commitment to serve selflessly and fulfil all our earnest promises. We humbly seek your support and cooperation. Together, we shall make Lagos greater.
Thank you all and God bless you.
Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu,
Governor of Lagos State
20th August, 2019.
Below are names of Commissioners heading various ministries in Lagos State. Also in this list are Special Advisers to the State Governor, Sanwo-Olu.
1. Mr. Rabiu Olowo Onaolapo
Honourable Commissioner for Finance
Rabiu according to his twitter and Linkedln handle profile is a Certified Fraud Examiner, Experienced Chief Audit Executive, Adjunct Professor and Authorised Trainer of The ACFE in West Africa, an anti-fraud organisation and premier provider of anti-fraud training and education.
2. Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo
Commissioner for Education
Folashade is an educationist with more than 20-year experience in the sector. She is a principal consultant/CEO at Leading Learning Limited, a company she founded herself in 2014.
3. Prof. Akin Abayomi
Commissioner for Health
Prof. Emeritus Abayomi is a specialist in Internal Medicine, Oncology, Environmental Health and Biosecurity. Akin studied at the Royal Medical College of Saint Bartholomew’s Hospital in the University of London where he attained his first graduate degree in Medicine and progressing to obtain fellowships from both Royal College of Medicine in the United Kingdom and the College of Medicine of South Africa.
4. Dr. Idris Salako
Commissioner for Fiscal Planning and Urban Development
Idris is the Managing partner at Adesanya Salako and Associates. He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) and a member at the Town Planning Registration Council of Nigeria (TOPREC).
5. Mr. Tunji Bello
Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment
Bello, according to his profile on Bloomberg served as worked with various companies like First Bank of Nigeria, Concord Press Nigeria Ltd., St. Petersburg Times, Florida USA, to mention just a few.
The former commissioner and immediate Secretary to the State Government (SSG) had various publications to his credit ranging from business to politics.
He is a member of the following bodies: Nigerian Bar Association, Nigerian Society of International Law, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigerian Union of Journalist, and Civil Liberty Organisation.
6. Mr. Gbenga Omotoso
Commissioner for Information and Strategy
Gbenga is an award-winning journalist and the current Editor-in-Chief of The Nation Newspaper.
7. Mrs. Bolaji Dada
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation
Dada is the former Vice-Chairman of Apapa Local Government, a position she held twice. She is a 1991 graduate of the Lagos State University graduate of Industrial Chemistry with a Masters in Corporate Governance from the Leeds Metropolitan University, United Kingdom.
8. Mr. Lere Odusote
Commissioner Energy and Natural Resources
Olalere is an acknowledged power sector expert responsible for creating partnership strategies that guide new business and infrastructure development.
He has a BSc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ibadan and an MBA in Investment Management and Information from Pace University, New York.
9. Dr. Frederic Oladeinde
Commissioner for Transportation
Oladeinde is the Head of Corporate and Investment Planning Department of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). He joined LAMATA in 2008 as Technical Adviser and head of Transport Planning.
He holds a Ph. D. degree in Transport Planning from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine in the United Kingdom.
He began his career as a transport consultant in Oscar Faber Consulting in London, United Kingdom before joining the Department for Transport, UK as a Senior Transport Planning Adviser where he was responsible for advising the British government on the impact of various transport policies.
10. Mr. Gbolahan Lawal
Commissioner for Agriculture
Gbolahan is the immediate past Commissioner of Housing and a former Commissioner of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Lagos State. A seasoned security & development practitioner and socio-entrepreneur, he has deep understanding for political economy of development, especially in low and medium-income economies.
11. Moruf Akinderu Fatai
Commissioner for Housing
12. Mr. Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN)
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice
Moyosore is a first-class litigator. In recognition of his excellence in this regard the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Hon. Justice Aloma Mukhtar GCON conferred Mr. M.J. Onigbanjo with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on 23rd September 2013.
13. Mr. Hakeem Fahm
Commissioner for Science and Technology
Hakeem is an ICT specialist and a former Commissioner for The Ministry of Science and Technology. He is also a Network Infrastructure Director.
14. Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle
Commissioner for Ministry Establishment, Training and Pension
Mrs. Ponnle is an accomplished Consultant, Executive Coach and Organisational Psychologist. She has a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Ibadan and a M.Sc. in Organisational Psychology from the University of London.
She has over 22 years’ experience in various fields having worked in companies such as Arthur Andersen (now KPMG International) and British American Tobacco.
With a combined experience in Human Capital development of over 14 years, Ponnle has worked extensively with leaders and teams in both private and public sectors with focus in the area of learning and development, leadership and team development, diversity and inclusion and change management.
15. Engr. Aramide Adeyoye
Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure
16. Mr. Segun Dawodu
Commissioner for Youth and Social Development
Dawodu is a former Commissioner of Sports in Lagos.
17. Mrs. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf
Commissioner for Home Affairs
Uzamat is a Pharmacist, Politician and the immediate past Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Lagos State
She had her primary education at Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Ile Ife from 1980-1986. On completion she gained admission into the Seventh Day Adventist Grammar school Ile Ife between 1987-1992 after which she was admitted to University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos for her B.Pharm graduating in the year 2006.
18. Mrs. Yetunde Arobieke
Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs
19. Mrs. Lola Akande
Commissioner for Commerce and Industry
20. Mrs. Olufunke Adebolu
Commissioner for Tourism Arts and Culture
21. Mr. Sam Egube
Commissioner for Economy Planning and Budget
Egube is the Board Chairman of CeLD Innovations Limited. He is an engineer with significant banking experience.
He is also an author and socially smart entrepreneur whose carrier runs through a significant number of local and international institutions.
His banking sojourn as management staff and consultant cuts through top Nigerian banks including, United Bank for Africa Plc, NNB International Bank Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Diamond Bank Plc.
22. SPECIAL ADVISERS
Dr. Wale Ahmed
Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations
Dr. Wale is a Medical doctor and a member, Nigerian Medical Association, Society for International Relations & Diplomacy and Nigerian Red Cross Society.
He is a one-time Commissioner for Special Duties and Assembly member who sponsored the motion for free treatment of accident victims within the first 24 hours.
23. Ms Ruth Bisola Olusanya_ not available
Special Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture
24. Princess Aderemi Adebowale
Special Adviser of the Office of Civic Engagement
Princess Adebowale, founder of Remindales Healthcare Agency, is a one-time freelance journalist and politician. She is a former aspirant of the Epe Federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
25. Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo
Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Affairs
Ayantayo is a crime and fictional writer turned politician. A graduate of Mass communications from the University of Lagos, Ayantayo has been writing from an early age.
He was Secretary to the Local Government, Orile Agege and presently a member, Lagos State House of Assembly Service Commission (LAHASCOM)
26. Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka
Special Adviser, Ministry of Housing
She is a barrister turned politician. She is also the Assistant Legal Adviser, All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State.
27. Joe Igbokwe
Special Adviser for Drainage and Water Resources
28. Tubosun Alake
Special Adviser for Innovation and Technology
29. Architect Kabiru Ahmed Abdullahi
Special Adviser, Urban Development
30. Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi
Special Adviser, Central Business Districts
31. Bonu Solomon Saanu
Special Adviser, Arts and Culture
32. Oluwatoyin Fayinka
Special Adviser, Ministry of Transportation
33. Oladele Ajayi
Special Adviser on Commerce and Industry
34. Tokunbo Wahab
Special Adviser, Ministry of Education
35. Solape Hammond
Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals
