153 LASU students bag First Class, as VC attributes academic excellence to staff cooperation, stable calendar

Lending credence to its prominence as the best state university in Nigeria, the Lagos State University (LASU) will be honouring 153 students of the institution with First Class at the her 27^th convocation ceremony on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. 

The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello made the revelation at a pre-Convocation Press Conference of the university which took place at the Main campus at Ojo, Lagos State, on May 30, 2024. 

Giving a breakdown of the students’ performances in the 2022/2023 academic year, Prof Olatunji-Bello disclosed that 8,477 students will be graduating for 1st Degree programmes. She said, “Out of the 8,477 students that are graduating for 1st Degree programmes in the University, 153 came out with First Class, 3029 are graduating with second class Upper Division, 4,350 are graduating with second class Lower Division, 715 are graduating with Third class, 228 are graduating with a Pass.”

Prof. Olatunji-Bello who attributed the excellent academic performance of the institution to staff cooperation and stable academic calendar further said that out of the 2164 Postgraduate students that are graduating, 375 are in Postgraduate Diplomas, 962 Academic Masters, 672 Professional Masters, 89 Doctor of Philosophy while 66 are in Professional Doctoral Degrees.

She announced that Olaniyi Mubaraq Olawale of the Accounting Education with a CGPA of 4.98 [First Class Honours] is the best-graduating students for the 2022/2023, while for Masters, Olaitan Aminat Damilola with a CGPA of 4.78 (Educational Management) is the best graduating student for 2022/2023 session.”

She disclosed that the convocation ceremony have been divided into two segments, Pre-Convocation events and Convocation events. “This Press Conference, which marks the first pre-convocation event, will be followed by the Convocation Staff Sports Competition at the LASU Sports Centre on May, 30.

“On Friday, 31st May 2024, which is Day 2 of the Ceremonies, we shall hold the Jumat Service at the University Central Mosque, at 1:00 p.m;

On Day 3, which is Sunday, 2nd June 2024, we shall hold the Special Thanksgiving Service at the University Chapel of Light, Ojo, Lagos at 10:00 a.m. The Thanksgiving Service marks the end of the Pre-Convocation events. On Monday, 3rd June 2024, which is the Coconut Breaking and Cultural Festival which will kick start the convocation events will be held at the Badagry Gate, Ojo at 9:00 a.m.

“On Tuesday, 4th June 2024, which is Day 5 of the Convocation, we shall be having the Convocation Lecture titled: ‘Embracing the Future: Navigating the Intersection of Technology and Humanity’. The Convocation Lecturer is His Excellency, Dr Babatunde Raji Fashola, a former governor of Lagos State and Visitor to our university,” the VC revealed. 

She added that the Convocation Lecture will be chaired by Emeritus Prof Peter Okebukola, who was a distinguished Professor of Science and Computer Education until retirement from the university.

The VC further revealed that on Wednesday, 5th June 2024, which is Day 6 of the ceremonies, Diplomas, First Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Master’s Degrees shall be awarded to deserving graduands at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, Ojo by 10:00 a.m.

While on Thursday, 6th June, 2024, which is Day 7 and the grand finale of the ceremonies, there will be award of Doctorate Degrees and conferment of Honorary Doctorate Degrees and Emeritus Professor at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, Main Campus, Ojo.

 

 

Be committed to your studies, Prof Olatunji-Bello urges, as LASU matriculates 2000 diploma students

Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU) has urged newly matriculated Diploma students of her institution to be committed to their studies.

Prof. Olatunji-Bello gave the advice at the Matriculation Ceremony of 2023/2024 Diploma students of the institution which was held on Tuesday, 28th May, 2024 at the Buba Marwa Auditorium, Lagos State University, at Ojo, Lagos.

She said ” As young men and women desirous of a brighter future, it is expected that you abide with the rules and regulations of the University and be committed to your studies, be regular in attending lectures; carry out all your assignments; shun deviant behaviors; avoid indecent dressing; carefully select your friends, as bad friends destroy good habits;  the university has zero tolerance for cultism; avoid examination malpractices,  do away with corruption and hooliganism and other vices that can expose you to danger as those found culpable will be dealt with in line with our disciplinary mechanisms.”

Prof. Olatunji-Bello while congratulating the students averred that the LASU is known for being a student centered university and a place for the grooming of generational leaders. “I rejoice and congratulate all of you that are fortunate to be offered admission in this reputable University. I also congratulate your parents, guardians, family members and well-wishers for their effort towards ensuring that you fulfill your dreams of having a qualitative education. It is important for me to mention that the Lagos State University is a student-centered University. It is a place for the grooming of generational leaders.”

She added that even though it is a fact that a University is a place of freedom, but in LASU, such freedom comes with corresponding obligation and boundaries. “In LASU, that freedom often comes with equivalent obligations and boundaries. We take pride in training students for life. We are focused on character development of our students.”

On his part, the Director, Lagos State University Consult Limited, Professor Ibrahim Adeolu Bakare, disclosed that over 2000 diploma students were being matriculated which according to him was a great improvement on the number matriculated in the last years.

He said “According to records, more than 1,500 students were accepted into several Diploma programs during the 2022–2023 Academic Year, compared to 500 students offered admission during the 2021–2022 academic year. That being said, it is encouraging to see that more than 2,000 students are matriculating right now.”

He said the increase in the number of applicants for Diploma Programmes can be attributed to several crucial success factors, including rebranding and low tuition fees. “The increase in the number of applicants for Diploma Programmes can be attributed to several crucial success factors, including rebranding, low tuition fees, excellent instructions, a safe and secure learning environment, a well-developed students’ code of conduct, the alignment of the programmes with societal demands, and our Ivory Tower's rising international rating.”

Speaking further Bakare said “I took over eighteen (18) Diploma Programmes when I assumed office on April 26, 2022. Following a thorough assessment of these programmes, I discovered that some of the courses previously approved by the University Senate were no longer offered, which prevented our internal Diploma Programmes from running at their full potential. But thanks to the strategic efforts of the LASU Consult Limited Team, the affected Departments, and our valuable partners, the number of Certificates and Diplomas has increased to eighty-five (85) cash-cow courses, including the Diploma in Computer Science and the Diploma in Data Science commencing from the 2023–2024 Academic Year.”

Tinubu: A year's policies and impacts

Hon Modestus Umenzekwe:

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria took the oath of office on May 29, 2023, as the sixteenth helmsman of Nigeria.

Today, the Administration is one year, one year of well-articulated, impactful and signature policies, giving Nigeria reason to be confident. Bola Ahmed Tinubu knows where he is going with consciously designed roadmaps, these for me is a very good sign of a nation that understands what it is doing, and is heading to a well consciously designed and determined destination, and in no distant time, I believe, with an egghead, political technocrat like Tinubu, the era of political, economic, social and security challenges will improve.

Of course, with his Renewed Hope Agenda, Tinubu came to power well prepared to right the wrongs of any visible and noticeable wrongs in the country. Tinubu's economic policies are said to be hurtful but for me, these are a child of necessity. When he said subsidy is gone, he knew what he was saying, and knows how to go about it. If there was the right time to stop the subsidy, it is now, not tomorrow, if Nigeria must breathe again. Therefore, with the subsidy removal, the whopping amount of money paid in respect of that has been saved and are being ploughed back into the public coffers for infrastructure upgrade, road constructions and rehabilitations, mass housing, all these and other critical areas of the country are dully receiving attention

Over the weekend President Tinubu was personally in Lagos State to formally inaugurate projects including the popular Lagos/Calabar Coastal road, to mark his 100 years in office. 

President Tinubu’s achievement in just one year is quite amazing; he secured a financial partner from EDIB Hong Kong to develop the $27.29bn Escravos Seaport Industrial Complex. This project is located in Escravos (Gbaramatu Island/ Omadino. President Tinubu has provided a written confirmation of a new era Free Trade Zone, with a workable financial model 99years concession of build, own, operate, and transfer in which Delta State is to provide 31,000 hectares of land.

President Tinubu approved the EISC deep seaport; this port will service all inland ports along River Niger. It's called "River Niger Canal Project," in partnership with Suez Canal Authority. This Canal/International Marine highway project is a 600kms ESIC seaport that runs to Baro Port. This project will open up the canal to a depth of 10m to enable it to take vessels up to 100,000 metric tons.
President Tinubu has approved Kano - Lagos narrow rail express service. It will help farmers to move their goods and aid quick products export from the hinterland. He has just switched payment for Crude Oil sales to CBN, away from the NNPC.
Tinubu has equally launched the Student loan Scheme which will commence soonest because all measures have been put in place to ensure it gets to Nigerians who are yearning for University Education. PBAT has been able to pay back some of the loans owed to China, India, America among others, and he has entered into bilateral agreements and signed MOU on ways to improve the economy and power generation.

President Tinubu has also signed a bill passed by the National Assembly to start paying the vulnerable, aged and unemployed graduates a certain amount of money on monthly basis which will definitely kick start soon. PBAT as we are all aware has been able to recover trillions of monies stolen by people.

His anti-graft posture is unarguably outstanding and cannot be faulted. He suspended his minister for alleged corruption. He doesn’t want anything to stain his administration.

On roads we can boast of Ado, Ijan Road and Ado – Ikere – Akure road all in Ekiti State. In Abia State, the on-going Bende-Ohafia-Arochukwu road, we are also talking about the Lokoja–Okene road in Kogi State; the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road is also there.

He floated naira to compete with the dollar as a means of stabilising the volatility in the forex market. In Healthcare there is an upgrade which is ongoing, road rehabilitation and construction is ongoing, education development is also ongoing.

Also the President believes that business environment must be conducive, hence the recent fiscal reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria to clean up the system. The Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF), recently introduced by Tinubu is also mobilising billions of dollars for infrastructure projects which he hopes will reshape the country’s landscape, particularly roads and highways, airports and seaports and power plants.

In his foreign engagements, particularly with local and foreign investors, the President plays the role of Chief Marketing Officer for the country with great energy and enthusiasm. In fact, in the last one year, we have seen investment commitments in excess of 30 billion USD, across various sectors. The President in the last one year has been focused on policies and programs that provide direct and targeted economic relief and benefits to the pockets and livelihoods of Nigerians, by way of grants, education loans, food and fertilizer distribution, cash transfers, health insurance, and consumer credit. The disbursement has since commenced of the Nano-grants of N50,000 for one million Nigerians which is part of a larger 200 billion Naira MSMEs credit programme.

Besides, the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) is currently being repositioned to ensure that it delivers maximum value to the intended beneficiaries, without the distortion of middlemen, this vision of targeted economic relief has also led to the launch, in recent weeks, of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CrediCorp), as well as the work going on to negotiate a new minimum wage that will touch the lives of millions of Nigerians, we should not forget in a hurry the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative as it would provide a cheaper alternative to petrol and diesel for transporters and commuters which is being finalized.

Tinubu took a notch further recently at the World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he said, “Concerning the question of subsidy removal, there is no doubt that it was a necessary action for my country not to go bankrupt and to reset the economy and the pathway to growth. It was going to be difficult, but the hallmark of leadership is making difficult decisions when they need to be made.”

His anti-graft posture is second to none. He banned the money-for-degree universities in Benin Republic, Togo and other countries; embarked on the clearing of the N12billion outstanding allowances and other arrears for the Super Eagles, the same with arrears owed other national teams were also paid by the President.

The government has earlier started the payment of wage support benefits to civil servants, the disbursement of N105.5 billion for 266 road repairs.

The launch of the automated passport portal and the unfolding of plans to build a new Chinese-funded plant in Nigeria which was hatched during the visit to China by the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaib Abubakar Audu. The students’ loan scheme has been signed into law; of course you read that over 1.4million students have applied.

Tinubu also cut the cost of governance by drastically reducing the number of people in his entourage on local and international trips. He also directed that the top government functionaries, dignitaries and aides on his travels be slashed by 60 per cent, more than half. He ordered that in the area of security, his team should rely more on the capacity of the security establishment and existing protocols in the host states.

The importance of cutting the number in the President's travels, apart from reduction in total cost of the trip, first, it is in agreement with the difficulties of the present time when prices of goods and services have gone up owing to what many tie to the prevalent foreign exchange rate, of course you have seen that Forex is coming down on daily basis.

With President Tinubu’s stance on ant-graft battle, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) will grow, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) will grow, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow, I am sure with what the executive arm is doing it will help the legislature and judiciary in stepping up in the ant-graft battle. I know it is not yet Uhuru, but President Tinubu’s policies and strategies are very commendable and that is the only way people will start to see and believe the government on transparency, accountability and diligence.

 

 

 

N41trillion GDP economy, sign of good governance by Sanwo-Olu, says Umenzekwe

Hon (Chief) Modestus Umenzekwe (Onwa Achina) a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in this interview reveals astonishing but evidence based achievements of His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Executive Governor of Lagos State, saying that such excellent performance has propelled the state into a N41trillion GDP economy. 

Recently Lagos State adorned headlines as being a N41 trillion GDP economy; your take.

Good news, I must state. I have always said it that Lagos is a pacesetter in almost everything in this country including governance; that is why it is nicknamed, Centre of Excellence. By implication of this feat, Lagos state is richer than Kenya, it is richer than other 47 countries in Africa, being the 7^th richest economy in the whole of Africa; you can correct me if I am wrong. We are no longer equating it with states in Nigeria, but we are talking about countries in Africa. This is an unbelievable, exceptional feat. I commend Sanwo-Olu, I commend Lagos State Government, the House of Assembly, the Governing Council, and all the key stakeholders in Lagos that made this feat possible.

For you Lagos is working…

Lagos is working, there is no rancor, governance is seamless, the Assembly is not fighting the executive, and vice versa, when the judiciary gives any interpretation of the law, it is obeyed, what else? Good governance remains the umbilical cord of the social contract between the people and the state. This is what is playing out in Lagos. Social Contract theory viewed as a people’s moral and/or political obligations which are dependent upon a contract or agreement among them to form the society in which they live. The citizens have certain obligations to the state, while on the other hand, the state must carry out certain obligations to the citizens, and manifest itself in what the people can see, feel, hear, touch; it is the physical infrastructure, education, environmental cleanliness, organizational abilities, it is not haughty, not impunity. It is dedication to statutory responsibilities, it is not blame game, it is work, work and more work. Lagos has excelled in all these and that is why today the state GDP has climbed to a whopping N41trillion.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced and rendered in a specific time period by a country or countries. GDP is more often used by the government of a single country to measure its economic health.

From the time of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, 1999 to 2007; Fashola, 2007 to 2015; Akinwunmu Ambode from 2015 to 2019 and now Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos has witnessed tremendous level of development never seen before in the annals of the state and Nigeria so much so that it has become the symbol of unity, peace and progress not only in Nigeria but the entire sub Saharan Africa. The name Lagos exudes respect among the comity of states. Those who have never been to Lagos long to do so, and those who have been there have wonderful, beautiful experiences to testify about the state.

You speak so passionately about Sanwo-Olu, maybe there are things you know about His government that the people of Lagos don’t know

Not that, but you see, Nigerians hardly follow activities of their government, many believe in side talks and pull-him down syndrome which is not good. This gentleman, Babajide Sanwo-Olu who was nearly disoriented by the covid-19 and EndSARS conundrum, quickly recovered and is displaying an amazing skill in governance. Look at the roll-call of his road infrastructure, he has completed and commissioned 34 roads at Kosofe, Somolu, Victoria Island and Ikoyi; completed and commissioned 384-capacity multi-level car park at Onikan, Lagos; flagged off the construction of 3.89-kilometre-long Ojota-Opebi link Bridge; completed and commissioned 3 network of roads at Oniru, Victoria Island (Adeola Hopewell, Idowu Taylor and Afribank/Churchgate Streets). He has completed and commissioned Ikoyi network of roads – Mac Donald road/Lateef Jakande Roads, Milverton Road and Thompson Avenue in Ikoyi, Eti Osa Local Government; Completed and commissioned Ijede Road Phase 1 in Ikorodu; Completed and commissioned1.4 km flyover and dual carriageway Pen-Cinema Bridge, Agege; Completed and commissioned Tedi-Muwo Link Bridge, Lagos-Ogun boundary Roads in Alimosho and Agbado-Oke–Odo access roads; Completed and commissioned 31 network of Roads in Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA); Completed and commissioned the 13.68 kilometers Oshodi-Abule-Egba BRT corridor; Reconfigured 6 Junction/Roundabouts – Allen, Ikotun, Maryland, Lekki and Ajah (under Traffic Management Intervention Plan (TMIP); Did 110 palliatives and 361 sectional rehabilitations on Roads across the State; 650 inner roads were rehabilitated by the Lagos State Public Works Corporation (LSPWC).

His performance in Inter-modal transportation (Rail) He acquired 10-Car intra-city Metropolitan speed trains for the 37km Lagos Red Line project; Compensated 263 residents affected by Red Rail Line project right of way; Completed the 380-metre-long sea crossing bridge component of the Lagos Blue Line Rail spanning Mile 2 to Marina; Flag off the Lagos Red Line Rail Mass track sharing with the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). The ground breaking ceremony was performed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on April 15, 2021.

In Water transportation: LAGFERRY now operates on 21 boats; 8 new boats were inaugurated by Mr. Governor on 6th February, 2020, while 7 new ones were added to the fleet on June 22nd, 2021. In Construction of jetties, the Apapa, Badagry​​​​ is 75.4% completed; Isalu, Ajido, Badagry​ ​​80% completed; Ilado Amuwo Odofin​ 79.82% completed; Ilashe, Amuwo-Odofin 100% completed; Ito Omu Epe​​​​100% completed; Takwa Bay Eti Osa​ 80% completed; Ijede Waterfront, Ikorodu​​ 35% completed; Marina Waterfront, Badagry 100% completed; Liverpool, Apapa ​​​100% completed; Ebute-Ero, Lagos Island ​​40% completed; Ijegun–Egba..

In Construction & rehabilitation of public schools, brand new SUVs were given to 13 outstanding teachers and school administrators in 2022; Commissioned a containerised 12-classroom block with facilities such as an interactive touch screen, mini football pitch and a multi-sports court at the Vetland Junior Grammar School, Ojokoro on Wednesday, June 28, 2022; Built and commissioned 18-classroom school, recreational facilities in Elemoro Junior Secondary School, Ibeju-Lekki axis of the State; Commissioned 180-bed hostel, block of classrooms, others at Model College Igbokut; Upgraded 2 higher institutions to Universities

Constructed 4,000 flats for the staff of Lagos State University (LASU); 243 public secondary schools’ libraries were renovated and digitized; Recruited 1,000 public secondary school teachers; Over 1,097 school projects are being undertaken by the Sanwo-Olu administration.

Completed and delivered LASU students’ Arcade; Embarked on the construction of 8,272-bed for LASU students; Provided 450,000 pupils with e-learning devices;18,000 teachers were trained under EKO EXCEL; among numerous other interventions in the state’s educational system.

In Social/economic interventions, 300 youths were trained in aquaculture and poultry farming; 280 youths were trained in solar farm construction;1,050 rural women received intensive training in boosting outputs in agricultural production and the beneficiaries were given equal access to markets; Supported 2,704 Lagos residents whose means of livelihood had been disrupted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; 500 women assisted with N20, 000.00 each through Rural Women Grants from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs; 1,050 women agricultural training for rural women on cultivation of vegetables, cassava planting and cultivation, garri processing and other arable crops; 250 women trained through an empowerment workshop on intercrop of maize and cassava with demonstration plots for practical knowledge; Over 6,000 graduates yearly from the 19 Skill Acquisition Centres across the state.

Supported 18 outstanding students from the Skill Acquisition Centres with N100,000.00 in 2019; Produced 500,000 face masks for public use during the pandemic; Empowered over 1,000 residents at the third Phase of the Mega Empowerment programme; Empowered 1,050 vulnerable women and indigent residents in the State with various working tools; Organized a Mentorship seminar for over 1,000 Youths on the theme: “AGRICPRENEUR: Strategy for Wealth Creation”; Empowered 600 women with ingenious business ideas to the tune of N4billion through the Lagos State Employment Fund [LSETF] W-Initiative in collaboration with Access Bank Plc to empower Lagosians; Empowered 200 household heads for orphans and vulnerable children in the State with various skills and tools.  Empowered 200 people Living with Disabilities.

Rescued 48,000 households from poverty through various social intervention programmes under which women got cash transfers and acquired skills; Trained 2,000 Tradesmen and Artisans (1,500 artisans and 500 tradesmen); 21, 262 residents benefitted from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd tranches of the conditional Cash Transfer Payment Exercise; Rescued 3,041 beggars/destitute/mentally challenged people and street children were taken off the streets; 178 street children were re-integrated back to the society after undergoing various interventions; 95 senior citizens benefitted from the services rendered in the state- owned Old People’s Home, Yaba; 814 children benefitted from vocational training, reformation, behavioural modification, psycho-socio therapy, re-integration, empowerment and scholarships to higher institutions of learning (both local and international]); 9,865 Civil Servants retirees paid N38billion; N585million paid to the families of deceased public servants as insurance benefits; 1,140 persons benefitted from Free Digital entrepreneurship training

You may wish to talk about his Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and MSME Programmes

Yes, His Excellency, the Governor, supported 3,673 businesses with N1.156billion and a plethora of interventions including, grants, mentorship, business advisory, and capacity building as well as market access opportunities; Supported 1, 835 businesses with NGN939.97million and saved a total of 10,005 direct jobs, 40,020 indirect jobs via the MSME Recovery Fund, an intervention programme to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and EndSARS protests on businesses; Introduced the Lagos Economic Acceleration Programme (LEAP) to reduce the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses; Initiated the N5billion EduFund in partnership with First Bank and EdFin MFB; Set up a N1billion fund targeted at businesses in the tourism, hospitality, entertainment, arts and culture sectors – both loans and grants; Introduced a N1billion Agriculture Value Chain Fund targeted at businesses that operate within the Agric value chain, among other interventions.

In Housing, he unveiled and handed over 48 units of Greater Lagos LBIC Apartments in Ogba-Ijaiye, Pen-Cinema of Agege in 2022; Completed and commissioned 480-unit housing project in Ibeshe, Ikorodu; Completed and commissioned 774 housing units LagosHOMS, Sangotedo Phase 1; Completed and commissioned 100 housing units in Ikate, Lekki, Lagos.  

Completed and commissioned the 360 home units, comprising 120-units home in Igbogbo in the Ikorodu; Inaugurated 252 home units, Idale, Badagry; Commissioned 84 home units in LagosHoms Lekki, Phase 2; Commissioned the 132 home units (88 home units and 44 home units of 3-bedroom apartments respectively) at the BRF Housing Estate, Iponri, Surulere; Completed and commissioned 120 units Courtland Villas, Igbokushu, Lekki; Handed over apartments’ keys to 492 beneficiaries of the Lateef Kayode Jakande Housing Estate, Igando; Completed 360 housing units at Igbogbo in Ikorodu; Completed 660 housing units at Odo-Onosa-Ayandelu Housing Scheme in Agbowa LCDA.

The same thing in Health; Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) inaugurated new centres at Ikorodu, Ikotun and Epe; 563,210 Lagosians covered under the Health Insurance Scheme; Completed and commissioned Mother and Child Center (MCC), Epe; Completed and commissioned Eti-Osa Mother and Child Center (MCC), Ajah; Completed and commissioned Mother and Child Center (MCC), Badagry;  Inaugurated Mother and Child Centers (MCCs), Igando; Reconstruction of the New Massey’s Street Children Hospital ongoing. When completed, it will be the biggest Children Hospital in Africa; Comprehensive renovation of public health facilities ongoing at: Ebute-Meta Health Centre; Harvey Road Health Centre; General Hospital, Odan, Lagos; General Hospital, Isolo; Ketu-Ejirin Health Centre; Revamped the Jigi Bola initiative across all LGs and LCDAs in the state; Ongoing health facility projects; Permanent 300 Bed Isolation Centre, Yaba; Infectious Disease Centre, Yaba; Infectious Diseases Research Institute, Yaba; Doctors’ Quarters at Yaba and Gbagada; Supported 15 families of persons living with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome with financial assistance of N1million to N2.5million each; Activated one Oxygen Plant at Yaba for COVID-19; Established 10 Tri and Oxygen Centres; 1,417 residents successfully had pediatric eye surgery, adult eye surgery, pediatric surgery, dental surgery, orthopedic surgery and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) surgery through the initiative.

In Environmental Regeneration, he Acquired 102 compactor trucks; 100 double dino bins were locally assembled for the use of Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA); 96 primary drainage channels were cleared across the State; 222 secondary channels were also worked on, out of which 146 have been completed while 76 are ongoing, among many other achievements under environment.

Food Security, 32-metric tons per hour rice mill (largest in Africa) nearing completion; Empowers 190 youths, women in fish cage culture; Unveiled 5-year food security roadmap; Generated 12,350 jobs and empowers 17,469 direct and indirect beneficiaries through the Lagos State Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS); 300 farmers benefitted from the 2021 Agric Value Chains scheme; supported 20 clusters of Ofada rice farmers with modern technology and necessary supports through the Lagos State Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS); Initiated 500 Hectares Rice Farm Technology Intervention project; Trained 97 Senior Secondary School Agricultural Science students, Agricultural Science teachers and Education Desk Of ficers under the 2021 Agricultural Summer School Programme; 879 farmers and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) benefited from the Lagos Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project.

He began the rehabilitation of its coconut belt in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).  This is to create over 500,000 job opportunities and wealth, through training, capacity building and empowerment of youths and women in the coconut value chain; N7.9million transaction done at the maiden Eko-City Farmers’ Market; Trained 575 women and youths, comprising 240 in aquaculture, 300 in poultry, and 35, under the APPEALS project in rice farming; 250,000 jobs to be generated via the State’s integrated rice mill at Imota; The State provided needed support the production of about 335,000 loaves of bread under the Eko Coconut Bread initiative; Established semi-mechanized abattoir in Oko-Oba in collaboration with private sector.

In Tourism/Entertainment, disbursed N200million as loan to 37 Nigerian film makers; Completed and commissioned the New Glover Hall, Lagos; Reconstruction of J.K Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture, Onikan, Lagos at an advanced stage of completion; Renovated 9 youth centres in Lagos Island, Badagry, Ikeja, Magodo, Abesan, Akowonjo, Ikorodu, Epe, and Isheri-Magodo; Construction of Film City on 100 hectares of land at Ejirin in Epe Local Government Area is on course; Completed the four state theatres in Epe, Badagry, Ikeja and Igando; among others.

It appears nothing much is heard on Justice and Security

Let me tell you, it is there, go and read it up. Sanwo-Olu has also don marvelous in Justice and security, he Completed 3 Police Posts in Ise, Elemoro and Ilashe; Completed Christopher Olatunde Segun High and Magistrate Courthouse, Badore, Ajah; Completed and inaugurated 4 new offices of the Citizens’ Mediation Centre (CMC) at Ojo LG, Iba, Alimosho and Ijede; Completed the renovation of the library at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba.

Provision of standard Police interview room with recording equipment at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja; Construction of Administrative block, Police Area Command, Elemoro, Ibeju-Lekki (Phase II); Construction of Administrative block, Police Area Command, Idimu (Phase II); Construction of Administrative block, Police Area Command, Elemoro, Ibeju-Lekki (Phase III), and Establishment of Forensic Toxicology and Chemistry Section and Enhancement of Security and other sections of Lagos State DNA & Forensic Centre: Phase 2 by Turnkey Project; among others.

Under Security/Emergency Management, he donated security equipment worth billions of naira to the police:180 patrol vehicles; 200 patrol motorcycles; 4-high capacity troupe carriers; 2 anti-riot canon vehicles

Armoured personnel carriers; 1,000 security gadgets; Commissioned the Emergency Security Regional Centre, Epe; Employed 100 fire-fighters

 

Umenzekwe salutes Nigerian workers, commends their doggedness

Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Hon (Chief) Modestus Umenzekwe (Onwa Achina) has saluted Nigerian workers for their doggedness, perseverance and hard work despite the nation’s economic challenges.

He also commended the workers for their steadfastness despite all odds.

Umenzekwe made the commendation in his May Day message to Nigerian workers, on May 1, 2024.

He said, “I want to wish the Nigerian workers well, and I also encourage them to persevere no matter the condition because the Federal Government of Nigeria, to the best of my information, is working assiduously hard to make their working condition better. The President is doing something about their demands; the committee set up to look into the minimum wage is working.”

Umenzekwe appealed to the Nigerian workers to eschew any act that is inimical to growth and development. “So let them eschew any act of disobedience, violence or industrial action. The Federal Government of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Initiative is working seriously to make them happy.”