Our pledge at the inception of Nigerian Essence, to be in the vanguard of Nigeria becoming an epitome ofrule of law and social justice for all, remains our motivation and guiding light. Notwithstanding the increasing socio-political and economic challenges confronting Nigeria and the compounding inability of the country’s political class to live up to the fundamentals and dictates of their call to leadership ,we are unwavering in our hope and prayer, that one day we will all come to full realization that only a just and equitable country can attain nationhood. As one of the ways of managing to keep this ray of hope alive, Nigerian Essence, shall continue to work with and propagate the activities of patriotic individuals, responsive governments at all the tiers and socially responsible corporate bodies, who are truly applying themselves to the best Nigeria can be.
In this edition, our major focus is the two years of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his administration’s promise for a “Greater Lagos.” The THEMES Agenda which was the fulcrum of his campaigns in the run up to the Lagos State Gubernatorial Election of March 9th, 2019 , has been described by the administration as the body of its strategies for a Greater Lagos and plans to make life more abundant for the citizens.
Now two years down the journey, the Nigerian Essence Magazine Team went round the State to find out if the THEMES Agenda has indeed translated from ideas to policies and policies to meaningful programmes and actions. This, most importantly, we have done to see how far these two years have impacted on the people positively. What we found on ground we like to simply describe as “a great leap towards a Greater Lagos and an illumination of knowledgeable servant leadership.” Without any doubt, the two years of Sanwo-Olu has further confirmed that Nigeria is blessed with knowledgeable and conscientious men and women that could assist the country to attain the best possible results and rank among the very best in the world. Lagos State has continue in the last two years of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to be a peaceful habitation for all citizens, despite a number of challenges like the hijacked End SARS struggle, which was turned into violent destruction of private and public properties.
Dr. Olusanya Awosan
Under the leadership of Governor Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State has continue to consolidate its position as the economic backbone of Nigeria with its GDP rivaling African nations. There is no gain-saying the fact that Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his team have increased the influence of Lagos State as the heart beat of the nation, so that what happens in Lagos, affects Nigeria in its entirety.
Looking back at May 29, 1999, and the period immediately after it, when anxiety and agitation engulfed the State as a result of plethora of challenges of bad roads and filthy environment inherited from the immediate past government. Remembering the days rain and near empty purse did not give Sanwo-Olu’s team opportunity of quick response, when the plea for patience by government, also did not sink with Lagosians, who believed, and very rightly so, that since the previous government was also of APC, the plea for patience was out of place and untenable. But for Sanwo-Olu’s quick creative moves which brought some financial relieves, these initial challenges would have derailed the State of Excellence. From there the State of Aquatic Splendor has continue to sail, and two years down the journey, the attention of the world is now on Lagos in Africa. The two years of Sanwo-Olu’s administration have seen the THEMES Agenda transmitted from campaign ideas to sound policies, which prompted to highly creative and people -centered actions in the Centre of Excellence. The Babajide Sanwo-Olu THEME’s team has indeed piloted Lagos State in the last two years to greater heights and which is now emerging gradually as 21st Century mega city with all traits of an ultimate modern developmental accomplishment.
Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Chief Helmsman, erudite Land-Surveyor, accomplished private sector player; Banker and Treasurer extra-ordinary, and above all, humane and humble public servant and leader, is already enamoured by it all. He and his entire team, have in the last two years been committedly bearing the policy of The Greater Lagos as a major developmental article of faith. With the passion so far displayed, one can safely conclude that Mr Governor, who has been described as” the poster boy of Nigeria’s fight against covid-19″, by no less a personality than one of the Nigeria’s finest congress men and erudite scholar, Professor Julius Thonbere; sleeps, dreams and preaches “Greater Lagos”.
As it now stands, even the accuser of the Brethen and the master minder of Apostle Peter’s great denial of El Messaiah, will surely find it extremely difficult to deny the giant strides that Lagos has witnessed in the last two years of Sanwo-Olu’s administration. Sanwo-Olu’s team is solid, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu is deep and as our heroic progenitor, PaPa Awo has said “only the deep can cut to the deep.”