Funmi Ogundare
The African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC), a multi-city research project, has concluded its research on key sectors of socio-economic development of Lagos, revealing causes of, and providing solutions to seemingly intractable developmental challenges confronting the state.
The consortium’s City Lead and Professor of Urban Development and Governance at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Taibat Lawanson presented key findings of the research titled: ‘Lagos City of Systems: Food Security, Health and Safety, Environmental Sustainability’, recently at the 2023 edition of an annual education summit by the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN),
The project, she explained, is currently being undertaken across 12 African cities and presents an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to work together to achieve a shared understanding of the political economy of African cities so as to identify and address the critical challenges the cities are facing.
Lawanson added that the project’s aim is to generate insights and evidence that will help improve the living conditions, services and life chances of all city residents, particularly for disadvantaged communities.
“It is an investment by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom, which is targeted at funding new, operationally-relevant research to address intractable development challenges in African cities.”
According to Lawanson, the project’s domains of interest in Lagos are structural transformation, safety and security, neighbourhood and economic district development and housing.
The city lead stated that researchers have been working over the last two years and have identified priority complex problems which will be addressed through action research and advocacy over the next five years.
“All priority complex problems align with the Lagos State Economic Development Plan (2032 – 2052) and the THEMES+agenda of the Lagos State Government,” she said.
The don listed some emerging findings in the Lagos city which she noted cut across nine city systems and four domains of the research focus; from healthcare sector to transportation, water and sanitation, waste management, energy, food distribution, finance and ICT, law and order, and education.
Reviewing the recommendations after the presentation, a Professor of Environmental Law and former Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Olanrewaju Fagbohun, said apart from the fact that the report is comprehensive, it is captured in very simple language.
He said as an outcome of empirical studies, the recommendations must be embraced by all, particularly the state government.
“If we are going to implement this document, government must be ready to invest in it, and no investment will be too much if we consider the focus as a sustainable city. We must therefore consider participatory cooperative research approach and knowledge co-creation so that the local communities can be carried along.”
Reacting on behalf of the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, the Director of Education Resource Centre, Omolayo Akinlade, thanked the consortium for the efforts, and pledged the support of the state in the implementation of the recommendations.
“The administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is is a listening one, and that is clearly evident in the passion and commitment towards achieving the T.H.E.M.E.S plus agenda, which have incorporated almost all the sectors touched in the research,” she said.
Mrs. Akinlade said she would make the document available to the commissioner but pleaded with the organisers of the event- EWAN, to provide avenue for all the concerned ministries and agencies to have access to the recommendations.
