Governor’s Wife Seeks Technology To Improve Market Operations

Wife of the Lagos state Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has urged market leaders in the state to harness technology to develop the market operations and ensure proper waste management and hygiene towards a sustainable environment.

Sanwo-Olu who is the Chairman, Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials, COWLSO, stated this during a one-day seminar on Market Sanitation and Security for Market Leaders in Lagos East Senatorial District, held at the Babajide Sanwo-Olu International Model Market, Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area.

Speaking at the event, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development. the First Lady said that leveraging technology in the market places will further advance market environment to operate optimally.

She re-echoed the commitment to extend the market security and sanitation advocacy in the state through community-based associations to further achieve objectives of the administration’s THEMES Plus agenda.

According to her “Harnessing technology is another key aspect of improving market operations. Tools like CCTVs, public address systems, and digital platforms, including social media, can enhance waste management, public health, and security in our markets. We started this sensitisation through the five divisions of the stage and we are moving through the Senatorial District and after the Lagos West District, we shall move to the Community Development Associations CDAs to engage them on this cause.”

 

Market as lifeblood

 

Sanwo-Olu explained that markets are the lifeblood of economy which offer essential goods and services to the people and the administration of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu recognizes it’s strategic importance and gave it priority towards achieving the vision of making Lagos a 21st-century economy.

She emphasized that markets present challenges, particularly in terms of environmental and health risks, noting that addressing those challenges is essential to safeguarding the well-being of market users, the economy, and the environment.

 

Safety and security

 

The First Lady who also emphasized the need to be security conscious in the markets urged market leaders to develop effective strategies, provide training on best practices, and educate stakeholders on identifying and reporting potential threats to market safety particularly during this yuletide season.

“As we are already in the festive season, I urge all stakeholders to collaborate with government agencies to prevent fire outbreaks and other mishaps. The government remains committed to supporting markets by investing in infrastructure, providing training, and promoting initiatives that foster growth and development.”

She however called on all market stakeholders to join hands with the state government in creating markets that are clean, safe, and prosperous as the efforts will position Lagos as a model for sustainable development and economic growth.

 

Clean environment

 

In his address, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftancy Affairs and Rural Development, Mr Bolaji Robert said that markets are essential hubs of economic activity that provide livelihoods for people and it is important to keep the environment clean.

Robert said that the sanitation programme was designed to address the path to Improving waste management and public health in the market places, and how to consolidate on this as a recipe for economic growth.

He said “Markets can also be vulnerable to health threats if wastes from these markets are not properly disposed and this is why we must collectively take up the responsibility of disposing our wastes properly. 

“Let us for this reason ensure that produce and wares from our markets are kept in best hygienic conditions, especially by bagging our waste.and ensuring they are disposed in the containers provided by LAWMA.”

 

Proper hygiene

 

In her remarks, the Iyaloja/President -General, Association of Commodity Men and Women of Nigeria, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo enjoined the market leaders to take priority of thier hygiene by ensuring that market places are kept clean at all times.

The host Chairman of Ikosi Isheri Local Council Development Area, Mrs Samiat Bada restated the commitment of her administration to consistently support the initiative of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu aimed at repositioning the markets and ensuring cleaner environment

Resource persons took turns to sensitize participants on topical issues include fire prevention and safety in markets, health talks, information management in the market, drug abuse among others.