Ayodele Olalere
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Wednesday, announced the state government will create a leadership academy in order to immortalise the late first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
According to Governor Sanwo-Olu, the Academy would be named Lateef Jakande Leadership Fellowship Academy.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the announcement at ‘A Day of Tributes’ event held in honour of late Jakande at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, at Onikan, Lagos Island.
The governor also said the Red Line metro rail line being constructed will be completed in the next one and half years. He said the Lagos metro rail line which the Jakande’s administration conceptualised but could not implement would be achieved by his administration.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the Academy would produce 30 leaders every year who would be trained on the leadership qualities of late Jakande, adding the academy would be backed by laws so that successive governments can continue with it.
The governor described late Jakande “a selfless administrator per excellence.
“Today, we celebrates a great man, a selfless administrator per excellence, the architect of modern Lagos.
“A man who lived a life not in material things, a man that lived with honour and served the people with great character.
“One of his attributes was his humility. He stayed simple and humble. The light of his achievements will continue to light till the very end. He truly demonstrated that the essence of power is for the achievements of the people.
“He was a transformational leader who led by example. He served the people with all his hearts. He demystified the public service through his simple and spartan lifestyle. He died a happy and fulfilled man.
“The honour we can give to him is to continue to strive to his leadership qualities.
“We are going to set up a committee that will see to the creation of Lateef Jakande Leadership Fellowship Academy,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
In his remarks, the deputy governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said late Jakande lived the life of what he believed and preached. He added his father, Alhaji Olatunji Hamzat, served as Commissioner for Transportation in Jakande’s cabinet which afforded him opportunity to learn from the late Jakande’s administrative qualities.
“He was a leader and a team leader. Lagos State will remember his free education which gave many Lagosians opportunity to go to school.
“LKJ was a man of many parts , renowned journalist, detribalised Nigerian. He had a blueprint, he left a template,” Hamzat said.
While eulogising his late former boss, Prince Bayo Oshiyemi, who served as Chief Press Secretary to Jakande said the late governor implemented the four cardinal point of the Unity Party of Nigeria, the party under which Jakande governed Lagos and described him as ” a man of honour.”
The Secretary to the State Government during Jakande’s administration, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, said late Jakande created lasting impression on the people he led.
“He was an epitome of discipline, a lover of his people, a passionate progressive who pursued whatever he believed in.”
It is recalled late Alhaji Lateef Jakande served as first civilian of Lagos State from 1979 to 1983.
Some of his achievements during his four year tenure were building of the General Hospital, Gbagada, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos Television, LTV, and 13 low cost housing estates.
He also opened up the Lekki-Epe road axis, built the Alausa Round House which served as the office of the governor for several years.
Jakande established the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and gave free education at all levels .