Following the high rate of insecurity in different parts of the country, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday said his administration will stop at nothing to ensure that Lagos remains safe and secure for all.

Speaking at the 3rd Session of the 34th Synod of the Diocese of Lagos, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) held at Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, Governor Sanwo-Olu assured that Lagos will be a State that everybody would be proud of, adding that his administration will deliver on all the THEMES six-pillars developmental agenda for ‘Greater Lagos.’

He said: “Talking about security, we can say Lagos is relatively better but I sit on it and I know what we are doing and the things we need to do. We know we have issues to deal with as a country and Lagos will certainly be leading that conversation because we know how critical this State is to the nation.

“This is the melting pot for our nation where anybody can come in with a lot of aspirations and do well. Lagos is a state that gives hope to a lot of Nigerians. Lagos is a state that gives hope to all of Nigeria. So, we cannot afford anything to happen here. I can assure you with every sense of commitment that we will stop at nothing to make sure that Lagos remains safe and secure.

“In this month of May, you will see extensive pronouncements in that regard. You will see extensive policies and far reaching support that would be given out to all our security operatives so that it is not just a talk show and film show; it is something we are committed to and we will continue to make sure that our Lagos remains safe, secure, prosperous and a place where all of you would truly be proud off.”

Speaking on some of the measures being taken by his administration to curb insecurity in the state, Governor Sanwo-Olu said “We will deal with the issue of motorcycle in systematic order and to have human face to it, we would provide credible alternatives. We cannot throw the baby and the water away. The alternatives would be properly fashioned out before end of month of May.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu also appealed to citizens who have buildings that are either not completed or abandoned to get a professional security company to take it over so that they can monitor and police them well instead of leaving them open for criminals as hideouts.

He also spoke on some of the laudable achievements of his administration in the areas of transport, health, education, technology and security, among others.

The Governor, who said he is very proud to be a member of the Diocese of Lagos, commended the Bishop of Diocese of Lagos, Rt. Revd Humphrey Olumakaiye, for taking the diocese to a higher level.

He said Lagos State Government will support all of the infrastructure that will lead to the Centenary City of the Diocese because the city according to him is about the hope the diocese want to give to the hopeless and vulnerable parishioners.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who donated N25million to support the synod, said the State Government would be supporting the hosting of the Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) coming up in September for all the delegates to have a first class experience in Lagos.

In his address, Bishop Olumakaiye commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for showing leadership and delivering dividends of democracy to Lagosians with the THEMES developmental agenda.

“Your assiduity, promptness and managerial skills in handling the much dreaded COVID-19 pandemic and other crises that hit the nation and the world at large deserve applause. We sincerely salute your doggedness and unparallel leadership that is driven with the purpose of making Lagos the centre of excellence in terms of security, tranquility, employability, improved livelihood and so on,” he said.

Speaking earlier on behalf of about 73 bishops that attended the synod, former Archbishop of Lagos Province and former Dean, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most. Revd. Ephraim Adebola Ademowo, also commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for taking Lagos State to a greater height.

A simple Ramadan Tafsir (lecture) opened a floodgate of prayers for Lagos State and the country.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu hosted Muslim clerics across Lagos and beyond, on Sunday, in a special Ramadan programme, but the event to turned a forum to dissect the nation’s contemporary challenges and a ground to supplicate for peace.

The event was attended by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC leader, Chief Bisi Akande, members of Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), State cabinet members, Oba of Lagos, Alayeluwa Rilwan Akiolu, and members of business community, led by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, among others.

Grand Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Oluwatoyin Abou-Nolla, led the clerics to the event held at the State House, Marina.

Chief Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul-Rahman Ahmad, in his lecture, said the nation was in a trying period, stressing that the magnitude of the challenges required sincere actions by leaders and citizens to salvage the country from crisis.

The cleric said the citizens were always quick to heap the blame on leadership, but said the fault was on all citizens.

To redeem the country from its tribulations, Ahmad said all Nigerians must embrace change of bad attitudes and thought process.

He said: “This is a time that we require nothing else other than divine intervention. But, Allah will not intervene unless we carry out a few action. We must must change our thought process, the way we act, they we interact and the way we do do things.

“This is a time that not only talk is required, but sincere actions that are back by deep thought about what we are experiencing today and the peace we crave. We often blame the leaders, but we get the kind of leaders we deserve. Our leaders are who we are. To save the country, it is a joint task.”

The cleric acknowledged efforts by Lagos State Government to strengthen security and consolidate infrastructure. This, he said, must be supported by residents of the State. He urged residents to obey laws of the State and cautioned commercial motorcycles against continuous breach of the State’s traffic laws.

Ahmad admonished those clamouring for secession to have a rethink, noting that the consequences violent change were greater than what may be envisaged. Young people, he said, must desist from their escapist tactics.

In his own lecture, popular Islamic preacher, Sheikh Muyideen Bello, who took part of his admonition from a biblical verse, called on all Nigerians to interact with one another with back love and respect.

He said the nation would only survive its current tribulations if political leaders and citizens collectively seek repentance for their misdeeds, injustice and failed promises.

Bello said Nigerians must take the opportunity of the holy month to wean themselves off bad attitudes that led the country into the mess.

After the lectures, the Muslims clerics prayed for the return of peace to Lagos and other parts of Nigeria experiencing insecurity.

Tinubu expressed optimism that the nation would survive its problems. He flayed the spate of kidnapping, saying the criminals were using the crime to embarrass Islam, a religion, he said, abhours killing and abduction of people against their will.

The APC National Leader praised Sanwo-Olu and the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, for their leadership capacity to stabilise Lagos.

Tinubu said the feedback he got from Lagosians about the State Government under Sanwo-Olu was encouraging, saying: “It is Allah who chose both the Governor and his deputy for the people; God only used me to help them into the office.”

Sanwo-Olu thanked the clerics for their message of unity and for preaching peace. The Governor, who described leaders of faith organisations as the conscience of the society, urged them to continue to restrain members of their congregation from acts that may breach the peace in the State.

The Governor used the opportunity to explain some of the far-reaching actions to be taken by the State Government in the coming days to strengthen security and bring succour to commuters.

He said his Government, in the coming days, would be rolling out mini buses as alternative means of transportation to confront the nuisance of Okada riders in the State. He also intimate the Muslim leaders of the Government’s plan to procure and supply security equipment to the police and other paramilitary bodies to strengthen security in the State.

He urged the Muslim clerics to populate the message among their followers.

No fewer than 2000 Ogun State Public School Teachers have benefitted from a day training on Python Programming and Artificial Intelligence across the three Senatorial Districts of the State.

The programming is an aspect of Information Communication Technology (ICT), that is demonstrated by the machines in contrast to the those by humans.

The event, which was co-organised by the Bureau of Information Technology, in collaboration with Data Science Nigeria (DSN), Lead Resources, Computer Teachers Association of Nigeria (CTAN) and Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), at Hubert Ogunde Hall, Kuto, Abeokuta, would broaden knowledge of participants on Information Communication Technology (ICT).

While addressing journalists at the venue, the Director of Information Technology in the Bureau, Mrs. Olatundun Adekunte stated that the training was part of the conscious efforts of State government at transforming the secondary school teaching into a Digitally-Smart workforce.

Adekunte, in a statement signed by the Bureau’s Information Officer, Mrs. Tokunbo Jaiyeola, said, “Since it is generally accepted that no educational system can rise above the standard of its teachers, the State is totally committed to addressing the digital inadequacies of public school teachers, who are critical to the realisation of the present administration’s ‘Building Our Future Together’ agenda.

She noted that it was imperative to train and retrain the teachers, especially in the area of Information Technology, adding that the present administration is passionate in imbibing ICT on students, in order to prepare them for global competition.

“Indeed, we are in 21 century, where people are dealing with ICT, there will be no need for our teeming youths to be searching for jobs anymore, once they have trained digitally. That is why we need to prepare them for the future, because of its demand in the global economy”, Adekunte said

One of the instructors and the Business Manager, DSN, Mr. Amzat Olawasheun said it was a foundation for the primary and secondary school teachers in the State, to make them compete favourably in the area of Python programme and Artificial Intelligence.

Oluwasheun pointed out that teachers need to be adequately equipped and educated on Information Technology, to prepare the upcoming generations for the future challenges, noting that those programmings would be introduced into the primary and secondary school curriculum.

“This is basic foundation for our teachers in the State to develop their intelligence and broaden their knowledge in the area of programmings, to inculcate what they are taught here to their pupils and the world as well”, she said.

In his contribution, the Third Executive President, Computer Teachers Association of Nigeria (CTAN), Mr. Emosu Temitopeoluwa, stated that it is important to “catch them young” and implant such critical programmes into their minds, so as to become employers of labour in the nearest future.

“Indeed, Python Programmings is very essential, as at now, we cannot do anything special on IT without having knowledge of it. It is a new innovation we all need to vast at, so, our students need to be taught now, as they are still young to assimilate “, Temitopeoluwa said

Some of the participants, Mr. Elemide Florence of Idiko Gateway Senior Secondary School, Idi-roko, Ipokia Local Government and Mrs. Sofowote Rasheedat of Wesley Primary School, Iperu, Remo, opined that the programme was for beginners/starters, to develop their skills in the area of programmings on ICT, commending the State government for facilitating such training workshop for both primary and secondary school teachers.