‘Sanwo-Olu’s performance deserves another term’

• seen on: The Nation

Owolabi Falana is a Board member at the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). The youthful politician is an economist, and a public policy strategist. A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Falana is an active player in the presidential campaign of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as the re-election efforts of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. In this interview with Adejumo Razak, he explained how Sanwoolu’s strides in the education sector of the state are turning around school enrolments among other developments. Excerpts

AS a Permanent Board Member at LASUBEB, what can you say about the education policies and programmes of the current administration in Lagos State?

I can tell you that Governor Sanwoolu’s strides in the education sector of the state are turning around school enrolments among other developments. I recently embarked on a visit to all the Local Government Education Authorities (LGEA) in Lagos state. The intention is to see for myself, what we have been doing to improve education in the state. With my visit to Eti-Osa LGEA last week, I finished my visit of the BEQA Units in all 20 LGEAs in Lagos State. It was surely an excellent learning experience to interact with ALL BEQA personnel throughout Lagos State and exchange ideas with them.

I also took advantage of the chance to visit some of our schools during this last tour; one such is the Hon. Hakeem Alimi Nursery and Primary School in Ajah, Eti Osa LGA, where I met with the directors of the Parents Forum to discuss further opportunities for cooperation in fostering good community relations. My sincere gratitude goes out to Hon. Wahab Alawiye-King, Executive Chairman of Lagos SUBEB, for his unwavering support of this initiative, which is a testament to our goal of making our basic education system a model for other states in light of Mr. Governor’s sizable investment in the field.

I also value the assistance and words of support from our Education Secretaries and ALL BEQA staff for their commitment to attaining the board’s goal. We now have a reinvigorated team supporting our digitalization and expansion plans, which are intended to ensure the sustainability of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s significant investment in basic education. The impact is immeasurable, as it was a fantastic voyage on which I’m glad to have set off. The governor has invested hugely into the education sector of the state and he has been unwavering in his support for initiatives that can boost the sector. The results are there for all to see.

You were part of the various campaigns for Asiwaju Tinubu’s aspiration. Why do you think he is the right man for the job?

I am a beneficiary of Asiwaju’s free education during my days at New City Primary School and subsequently at AUD Model College Isolo. He also paid for our WAEC fees as governor and that’s just in the education sector alone. He laid a solid foundation for the economic growth of Lagos State with the Ehingbeti Summit as one of the major Avenue to articulate these plans alongside the improvement in IGR of Lagos State.

My mother was a staff in Alimosho Local Government when the federal government seized the council fund of Lagos State and yet there were receiving their salaries regularly. And now we are talking about how to revive the Nigerian economy, with the way he was able to transform the economy of Lagos State and with the enduring foundation he laid; it is only wise to support this great man to replicate these feats at the national level. All these informed my participation in the Asiwaju project right from inception and also actively supported him at the primaries as the youngest National delegate from Lagos State.

 

How will you describe the performance of Governor Sanwoolu so far in Lagos?

Governor Sanwoolu spent the first one year in office to finish uncompleted projects inherited and stabilize the Lagos financial system. Subsequently, he reorganized the education sector by creating the Special Committee on Rehabilitation of Public Schools (SCRP) which has rehabilitated and constructed thousands of schools in 3 years. Through SUBEB, the governor introduced new training models in our public primary schools with Eko Excel, which digitalised the teaching and learning process.

Mr. Governor also approved the employment of thousands of teachers to improve the standard of education across the state. He is unequivocal in his commitment to equity, closing the gap between the rich and the poor by ensuring access to quality education for all. One of the more recognisable achievements or performance of the Governor is in the area of infrastructural development. Over fifty major infrastructural projects such as the Pen Cinema fly over, ramp and road networks, Lagos-Ogun Boundary roads Phase II, Lekki Oniru traffic circulation projects, network of roads in Ojokoro , Somolu and Ikoyi, among others.

His administration also constructed and rehabilitated 301 inner roads in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). It also commissioned the Oshodi-Abule Egba BRT lane. The Eleko junction to Epe concrete pavement road construction is ongoing. These road projects were executed to bring comfort and succor to the people of Lagos. In the Agricultural sector, through the Agricultural Value Chains Enterprise Activation Programme, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has trained many youths in various agricultural practices which has gone a long way to giving them a means of livelihood and sustenance. He has also seen to the training of over 12,000 women, thousands of youths in the State have been empowered across the several value chains.

As a youth in politics and governance, what will you advise youths to look out for when choosing leaders?

I advise youths to be inquisitive first by being informed about the state of the nation, the options available to us and the antecedents of our candidates. I urgent the youths to also stick to issues and avoid fake news, that way, we will be able to examine the manifestos and programs of the candidates with open mind. Let’s eschew violence.

Finally, how challenging and interesting is your new role as a SUBEB board member? And what are your plans for the future in SUBEB.

I have been able to work with great minds in SUBEB in the last three months and I also have a good working relationship with our Executive Chairman, Hon. Wahab Alawiye King and fellow board members. At SUBEB, we have a policy of leaving no child behind and we are working assiduously through our various departments to advance this objective and also add value to the aspirations of Mr. Governor for the education sector.