Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has been sworn in alongside his deputy, Dr Kadir Obafemi Hamzat for a second term in office at the inauguration ceremony which was held on Monday at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan.
Both the governor and the deputy were administered the oath of office by the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba.
The event was graced by dignitaries including monarchs, captains of industry, politicians, and top government officials, among others, who defied the heavy downpour to witness the inauguration ceremony.
The governor had earlier inspected the combined parade of the police, paramilitary, voluntary organisations, and students, among others.
Speaking after his swearing-in, Governor Sanwo-Olu rededicated himself to meeting and surpassing the expectations of the people, saying that his administration would work relentlessly to make Lagos a state “where economic opportunities abound, where our infrastructure is robust and resilient, and where the rule of law prevails.”
The governor, however, noted that his vision for Lagos goes beyond physical infrastructure and economic indicators, asserting that the “vision is for a Lagos that is a beacon of cultural vibrancy, intellectual prowess, and humanistic values.”
“A Lagos that not only drives the economic engine of Nigeria but also enriches the soul of our nation. As we embark on this journey, we remember the timeless words of Mahatma Gandhi, that ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,'” Sanwo-Olu said.
“I pledge, as your governor, to lose myself in the service of Lagos State, to work tirelessly for the well-being of every Lagosian, and to strive for a Lagos that we can all be proud of,” he assured.
Sanwo-Olu said it was in line with this resolve that he was pleased to announce that his administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda would move to the next level, in his second term.
According to him, T.H.E.M.E.S will henceforth be called T.H.E.M.E.S+”, saying that the “plus” represents the incorporation of an intensified focus, in these next four years, on Social Inclusion, Gender Equality and Youth, with no one left behind.
“We are taking our THEMES governing agenda to the next level, in this Second Term. T.H.E.M.E.S, as you already know, stands for Transportation and Traffic Management; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos State a 21st Century Megacity, Entertainment & Tourism; and Security & Governance.
“Henceforth, it will be known as ‘T.H.E.M.E.S+,’ the ‘plus’ representing the incorporation of an intensified focus, in these next four years, on Social Inclusion, Gender Equality and Youth. In other words, we are strengthening and reinforcing THEMES with a ‘No One Left Behind’ philosophy.
“No one will be left behind on account of their social status, gender or young age; we will design all our policies and programs to ensure that everyone is carried along and catered to. This is our solemn promise to you,” he stated.
Giving a further account of his first tenure, Governor Sanwo-Olu said he could boldly say that his government had had four fulfilling years, learnt a lot, made some mistakes, and also implemented many transformational policies and programmes, assuring that the progress his administration had made would not be reversed, but would remain steadfast in its mission to make Lagos State a model of good governance, a beacon of hope and opportunity for all.
“Our path is clear, and our resolve is unshakeable.
“As we venture into this second term, I want to assure you that the spirit of our endeavours remains unfaltering. We will continue to tackle our challenges head-on and celebrate our successes. We will harness the potential of our greatest resource – our people.
“We stand on the threshold of a new era. An era that calls for us to evolve, to reimagine, and to forge ahead. Our vision for Lagos is one that sees no bounds. It is a vision of a city where dreams take flight, where every citizen is a part of our growth story, and where the global community looks towards us with respect and admiration.
“We will continue to build a Lagos that is not only a commercial nerve centre but also a hub for innovation,
culture, and sustainable development. A Lagos that is not defined merely by its physical boundaries, but by the indefatigable spirit of its people,” he said.
Speaking further, Sanwo-Olu eulogised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for laying the foundation for the development of Lagos, saying that the former governor made it easy for the succeeding administrations to strengthen transformational governance and keep the state on the path of progress.
He thanked the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari for dedicating kindness and support for Lagos, which enabled his administration to record many successes in the last four years.
Sanwo-Olu, while expressing his resolve to continue to offer transformational leadership to the state in collaboration with his deputy, Dr Hamzat, whom he described as a “loyal friend, partner-in-progress,” promised that Lagos would remain a city united by its diversity.
He, therefore, charged Lagosians and all that called it home to partake in its goodness “to make tomorrow better than today for us and our children.”
“I am sending a reminder to Lagosians that this land belongs to all of us, and all of us who call it home must partake in its goodness. Regardless of what language we speak, where we trace our ancestry to, where in Lagos we live, or what religion we profess; regardless of age or gender or political party, and regardless of how long we have called this land home; we are all united by something deep and immutable, which is our aspirations to make tomorrow better than today for us and our children,” HR said.
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