On Thursday, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu swore in seven new Special Advisers (SA) to the State Executive Council.
Sanwo-Olu said the new Special Advisers will take the place of individuals who voluntarily left the executive council in recent months to pursue their political goals while speaking during the ceremony at Lagos House in Ikeja.
According to him, the state government views smooth continuity as being crucial to fulfilling its political pledges and goals.
Sanwo-Olu continued by saying that it was necessary to fill the vacancies left by the departing executive members.
The governor praised the departing council members for their devoted and loyal service during their time on the body.
He claims that four of the seven people taking the oath of office are new to the State Executive Council, while the other three are returning members who have been reappointed.
“I heartily welcome you to our very vibrant, energetic and diverse team. Indeed, the Lagos State Cabinet is one of the most diverse anywhere in the country.
”You are among a small and privileged class of people whose ideas and decisions will go a very long way toward impacting the lives of millions of Lagosians, on a daily basis.
”Your appointment is a testament to your capacity, your accomplishments and your track record of hard work, commitment, dedication and professionalism in your private and public endeavours.
”The role, as you might have imagined, is a demanding one, requiring intense levels of hard work and dedication,” he said.
Given that his administration was in the final year of its first term in power, he stated that it would be expected of the appointees to get started right away.
”You must quickly familiarise yourself with our grand vision and governing agenda, and with the specific roles and contexts of your assigned portfolios,” he said.
According to Sanwo-Olu, the administration would consolidate the work done since 2019 in the T.H.E.M.E.S. coverage zones in the last year of its initial four-year term.
He emphasized that their employment should not be viewed as a chance for self-service and that they should adopt a culture of openness, responsibility, fairness, and value for money as they carry out the tasks that have been delegated to them.
Sanwo-Olu exhorted them to exhibit dedication, perseverance, and excellent leadership as the qualities required to reach the greatness the state aspired to.
Princess Aderemi Adebowale, Special Adviser, Civic Engagement; Dr. Olajide Babatunde, Special Adviser, E-GIS and Planning Matters; and Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, Special Adviser on Housing were among the seven new cabinet members.
Others are Mr. Sola Giwa, Special Adviser on Transportation, Mr. Abiola Olowu, Special Adviser on Commerce and Industries, Mr. Robert Bolaji, Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Mr. Femi Martins, Special Adviser on Tourism, Arts, and Culture.
The SA to the Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, responded on behalf of the appointments and thanked the governor for considering them deserving of a position in the cabinet.
Benson-Awoyinka pledged to put their all into advancing the Greater Lagos vision.
