Sanwo-Olu at 56: Showing Capacity in Times of Crisis

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s 56th birthday comes with remarkable recommendations by the electorate, writes Adedayo Aakinwale

The best of men are known in times of adversity. They are neither stoic nor selfish. With “arms of flesh” and “feet of clay,” they carry the vulnerabilities of humanity. In the grip of their imperfections, they strive for that which is almost perfect. There is no assumption of being saintly except for an avowed commitment to serve the people, be for the people and of the people.

Upon assumption of office in 2019, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu swore an oath to stand for the people of Lagos State and also be for them. As a man of the people, he understands the complexities of governing one of the world’s most populous cities. More than that, his dexterity is challenged to spin yarn into a common fabric representing the various, ethnically diverse people in Lagos.

With a clear understanding of human nature, nurture, and nuances, Sanwo-Olu has always at no time been hesitant to display to the full sense of humanity, a feeling often absent in men and women, who occupy “high places.” In Lagos, Sanwo-Olu is nonpareil as the governor. Yet, his administration has become synonymous with humanity and the dignity of living.

Born on June 25, 1965, Sanwo-Olu turned 56 on Friday. His strength is also his weakness: he does not shy away from adversities. He embraces them not, because he loves courting troubles and not because he needs to prove his mettle. He faces the odds because they often present the only way forward. On many occasions, he has beaten the odds. In doing so, Sanwo-Olu has not shown a similitude of stoicism. Rather, he has portrayed the picture of a man seemingly weak in power but powerful to assist the masses.

Today’s cosmopolitan Lagos is “faster” and “more furious” with delicate dynamics that require an assertive leader with a calm head over a sturdy shoulder. That’s Sanwo-Olu, the June birthday boy (his two predecessors, Akinwunmi Ambode and Babatunde Fashola, are also June birthday boys). What a June!

Just as Sanwo-Olu prepared to review and commemorate his first year in office, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the face of governance across the globe, with many administrations shaken to their foundation. In a nation not known for disaster preparedness, there were hesitations at the centre. But not the ‘Centre of Excellence’ with a man of excellence in charge. Sanwo-Olu turned panic into patience; a looming disaster into an opportunity to demonstrate resilience.
It was not just about the resources, limited though, at Sanwo-Olu’s disposal. It was and is still about his commitment to humanity represented by the people of Lagos. Every life meant everything to him as COVID-19 swept across Nigeria, with Lagos being the epicentre.

As a master strategist and people-driven leader, Sanwo-Olu would yet face another formidable task in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, a gnawing staccato of complaints seemed to have gone unheeded. In October, a wave of nationwide anger signposting decades-old angst of brutality, extortion, and other violations of human rights coupled with bad governance in the land snowballed into a near-national emergency. Fearsome rage found new meanings on the streets across the nation. Again, like the COVID-19 pandemic, Lagos was the epicentre. Many public facilities meant for a greater Lagos were devoted to destruction in the hands of hoodlums.

Caught in the web of either being for the people or politics, Sanwo-Olu did not tip-toe on sophistry. He stood for what is right, just, and within the confines of the law. He faced fiery discontent. Though undaunted and fearless, he remained humble and willing to accept any imperfections on his part. Always, even when challenged by unprovoked indignities, Sanwo-Olu appeals to humanity in every Lagosian. Seen by some adversaries as a stooge, Sanwo-Olu’s wisdom lies in his passion for and promise to always be for and by the people of Lagos. It is what he has sworn an oath to – a life of service in truth, equanimity, and progress.

At 56, nothing might have fully prepared Sanwo-Olu for the momentous episodes that have characterised 2020 and 2021, but with humility and humanity at the heart of governance, he keeps standing; and in style too. It is not certain any Nigerian governor, past or present, has been as open and transparent as Sanwo-Olu. He always wants to lead by example.

What he has achieved as governor since May 2019 illustrates that.
What guided Sanwo-Olu’s “executions and driven achievements” is his development agenda, THEMES. THEMES is an acronym for “traffic management and transportation, health, and environment, education and technology,” to make Lagos a 21st-century economy, entertainment and tourism, and security and governance.

His administration built a robust public transportation system to manage traffic and transportation, introducing high-capacity buses into the system. He also launched the 500 First and Last Mile (FLM) buses to make the number of buses hit 5,000 in a year, to be complemented by an additional 1,000 taxis in the LagosRide Scheme.

In addition, Sanwo-Olu’s government is building four bus terminals. In the future, he plans to introduce green buses. For waterways, his government is working with the private sector to build 15 jetties. Some of them will be inaugurated by the end of 2021. Regarding rail infrastructure, his administration has invested so much in the last two years, as he hopes to complete the blue and red line by the end of 2022. Already, phase I of the blue line has started, which is 27km. Six stations have been built, remaining two.

His administration is also determined on improving signalling, installing traffic lights, and lane marking to provide Lagosians and other Nigerians with a better experience on roads. On health and environment, Lagos has remained the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond testing and treatment, his government is also providing mental wellness and rehabilitation facility with a capacity for 500 patients, including radiology and orthopaedic centre.

Sanwo-Olu also has plans to build the “first Africa’s Institute for Infectious Diseases and Research Centre.” In the last two years, he built a world-class centre for cancer treatment and infectious diseases specialist hospital in Lagos in collaboration with the private sector. There are also beautification projects and local interventions, including cleaning up three landfill sites, modernising them. Besides building additional landfill sites, Sanwo-Olu is working on drainage infrastructure on roads.

He has built over 500 new classrooms in terms of education and technology, recruited 3,000 new teachers, helping schoolchildren have better learning outcomes with the philosophy to ‘leave no child behind.’ Sanwo-Olu’s government distributed 80,000 handheld devices as technology is a key component for him, deploying 3,600km of fibre optic in Lagos to connect fibre to schools, hospitals, and public buildings, providing cheaper internet access. It is simple: Sanwo-Olu wants to make Lagos Africa’s technology hub.

Making Lagos a 21st-century economy means making housing as affordable as possible, as well as expanding its energy supply. Sanwo-Olu is on top of that. On energy, he is doing direct intervention with the federal government being a nationally controlled industry as his administration works on off-grid generation, providing 1,200 streetlights with high LED to light up Lagos streets. That is not all.

In entertainment and tourism, he created a tourism fund and established Lagos Creative Academy to train scriptwriters, actresses, actors, newscasters, and producers. The Academy is conducting thousands of online training programmes with trainers worldwide, all funded by his government, though run by the private sector. He constituted a committee to assess the needs of movie producers and directors for support to produce more movies. In Lagos, many people have great stories to tell but do not have sponsors. His government collaborates with the Lagos Employment Trust Fund to support entrepreneurs.

In a nation assailed by a constant escalation of violence and food insecurity, Sanwo-Olu has set a five-year master plan for agriculture. He is building the “biggest rice mill in the country,” seeking interventions in the red meat value chain and the fishing industry, and exploring urban farming. Without a security force of its own, the Lagos government has continued to support the Nigeria Police Force.

There is yet so much to be done, and the governor is not daydreaming about Lagos’ transformation. His quest is to do that which he had promised on assuming power. Sanwo-Olu means business. Until he was elected the governor in 2019, Sanwo-Olu was the MD/CEO of Lagos State Development Property Corporation (LSDPC). Also, he had served as the commissioner of Economic Planning & Budget, Commerce & Industry and Establishments, Training & Pensions. Sanwo-Olu was elected the 15th governor of Lagos on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), after he was declared winner of the March 9, 2019, gubernatorial election by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC).

As an inspirational leader with a track record of performance, he was welcomed by Lagosians to continue ongoing development in the state. He is a reliable party man and astute politician reputed for his people-centred ideology. His foray into public service started after decades of accomplishments in the private sector, especially, the Nigerian banking sector, from where he retired as a General Manager.

This accomplished private sector expert, whose innovative mind quickly established as an exemplary public sector reformer, started his early education at Government Demonstration School, Surulere and Ijebu-Ife Grammar School, Ogun.

For his higher education, he proceeded to the University of Lagos for a Bachelor’s degree in Surveying & Geo-Informatics and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management from the same University. Sanwo-Olu is also an alumnus of the prestigious Havard Kennedy School of Government, London Business School, and the Lagos Business School. In addition, he is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Directors (IOD), Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), and Fellow of Nigeria Institute of Training and Development (NITAD).

In 2003, his eventful career opened to yet another colourful chapter with his appointment, first as special adviser to the deputy governor on corporate matters; and later as special adviser to the governor on corporate matters in 2004. Sanwo-Olu’s entry became a reference point for professionalism and excellence in public service. At 39, he was appointed acting commissioner for economic planning and budget from 2004 to 2005 and became the substantive commissioner for commerce and industry in 2007.

His managerial imprint became noticeable at the Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions in 2007, when he served as the commissioner. During this period, Sanwo-Olu authored an executable civil service framework designed around the Human Capital Performance Index, which today putsLagos civil servants among the highest and regularly paid in the country. A public officer with an impressive record of accomplishments, he was instrumental to establishing the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), a contributory pension scheme, even ahead of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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