Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has inaugurated 37 new cabinet members with the charge to build on the efforts of the administration.
This comes 108 days after the Governor received the oath of office on his re-election for another four-year term.
The cabinet members made up of Commissioners and Special Advisers will be working with the Governor in the next four years.
Speaking at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium at the State Secretariat, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the inauguration as historic. He said the event marked another milestone in the democratic odyssey and fulfilment of the nation’s constitution.
“In a world troubled by instability and rising suspicion of the value of democracy in some quarters, this event and the journey to get here demonstrates how well we are doing, and how well we have imbibed the tenets of democracy.
“I congratulate our new Commissioners and Special Advisers, the men and women whose knowledge and experiences have lifted them to this lofty height. They have been carefully and painstakingly chosen. They are, by any measure, some of our best brains, not just in Lagos State, but right around the country. These are men and women that can and will hold their own anywhere in the world. They are emblems of what Lagos State is all about – a Centre of Excellence.
“Lagosians should therefore rejoice in their selection and be expectant of quality service and performance in the months and years ahead” he said.
The Governor mentioned that the effort at selecting the members of his Executive Council was a pointer to the collaborative effort between the Executive and Legislature to draw up the best hands that will serve the people of Lagos State.
He said “I am not unaware of the feelings in some quarters that the initial rejection of some nominees by the Lagos State House of Assembly, necessitating the submission of a revised list of nominees, signified a call to arms between the Executive and the Legislature. I reject such feelings in totality.
“Thankfully, our constitution recognises that our people will be best served with a system of checks and balances that is led by independent bodies in each arm of government. This system demands collaboration and a willingness to give and take without rancour. That is what the Executive and Legislature of Lagos State, in the past few weeks, have fully demonstrated in arriving at this event today.
“Once again, I thank the Right Honourable Speaker and all members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for their diligence, cooperation and contribution.”
Sanwo-Olu however tasked the new members of the Executive Council to exhibit the spirit of cooperation and collaboration for the State to further soar higher.
He also urged them to remain humble, listen, learn and ensure they consult widely as he demanded nothing but less from them.
“The task of this new cabinet is clear. It is to build on the successes of our administration’s first four years in office. It is to take our people closer and closer to our dream of a Greater Lagos. As fate will have it, we are also marking the first 100 days of our administration’s second term in office. So today is as good a time as any to review the past, and to set our sights on the glorious future ahead of us.”
He urged them to be creative, innovative and committed to developing a roadmap that will enhance the scope of the themes plus agenda of his administration as he promised to complete more infrastructural projects in the coming years.
Consolidating gains of administration
Some of the dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Governor of Lagos State Dr Kadiri Hamzat, wife of the Governor, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, deputy governor’s wife, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, aecretary to the State Government, Mrs Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin among other party leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin urged them to bring their wealth of experience to bear towards consolidating on the themes plus agenda of the administration.
In a vote of assurance, given on behalf of the cabinet members, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso assured that the team would forge cooperation among themselves to enable the State actualise its dream of making Lagos a 21st century economy.
Below is the list of the new appointees:
Lawal Pedro – Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General
Bolaji Dada – Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Poverty Alleviation
Akin Abayomi – Commissioner for Health
Tokunbo Wahab – Commissioner for Environment
Moruf Akinderu Fatai – Commissioner for Housing
Gbenga Omotoso – Commissioner for Information and Strategy
Ibrahim Layode – Commissioner for Home Affairs
Mobolaji Ogunlende – Commissioner for Youths and Social Development
Dayo Alebiosu-Bush – Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure
Abisola Olusanya – Commissioner for Agriculture
Rotimi Fashola – Special Adviser, Agriculture
Gbenga Oyerinde – Commissioner for Special Duties
Toke Benson-Awoyinka – Commissioner for Tourism
Osiyemi Oluwaseun – Commissioner for Transportation
Tunbosun Alake – Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology
Mr Afolabi Ayantayo – Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pension
Engr. Abiola Olowu – Special Adviser, Commerce, Industry and Investment
Kayode Bolaji Roberts – Commissioner for Local Government Affairs
Mosopefoluwa George – Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget
Sola Giwa – Special Adviser, Transportation
Olajide Babatunde – Special Adviser, eGIS
Idris Aregbe – Special Adviser, Tourism
Dr. Oreoluwa Finnih-Awokoya – Special Adviser, Health
Adekunle Olayinka – Special Adviser, Works and Infrastructure
Abdul-Kabir Opeyemi Ogungbo – Special Adviser, Taxation and Pension
Folashade Ambrose-Medem – Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment
Bola Olumegbon – Special Adviser, Central Business District
Jamiu Alli-Balogun – Commissioner for Basic Education
Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu – Special Adviser, Environment
Afolabi Abiodun Tajudeen – Special Adviser, Political Education and Civic Engagement
Akinyeri Bankole Ajigbotafe – Commissioner for Wealth Creation
Barakat Odunuga-Bakare – Special Adviser, Housing
Yekini Nurudeen Agbaje – Special Adviser, Rural Development and Chieftaincy Affairs
Olumide Oluyinka – Commissioner for Physical Planning
Abayomi Samson Oluyomi – Commissioner for Finance
Iyabode Oyeyemi Ayoola – Special Adviser, Central Internal Audit
Tolani Sule Akibu – Commissioner for Tertiary Education
Emmanuel Ukoh
