Lagos, Aug. 7, 2023: Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Monday said his administration and people of the state will forever remember the late Lateef Jakande for his good deeds to humanity.
Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, stated this at the Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture organised by the Nigerian Guilds of Editors (NGE) in Lagos.
The lecture is with the theme: “Alhaji Lateef Jakande: The Man, His Journalism, His Politics.”
“I am glad that we are here today to be part of this annual lecture instituted to honour the memory of a great administrator, an elder statesman, and the first civilian Governor of our state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
“Though the passing of Alhaji Jakande was somewhat painful to us as a state and to individuals who knew him personally because he was indeed a man of lovable personality.
“We wished he could live forever; we must give unreserved appreciation to God for blessing us with him and for also giving him the grace to live a life that touched and impacted lives.
He said that the lecture would not only immortalise Jakande’s good name but it will also espouse his ideals for the coming generation to imbibe in their professional and public services.
Sanwo-Olu, however, thanked the president and members of NGE for instituting the annual lecture.
He noted that the theme would x-ray the life journey and milestone achievements of Jakande which revolve around his profession as a journalist and his calling as a consummate politician.
He said there is no gainsaying that both in his profession and his calling, Jakande demonstrated visionary leadership and selflessness in the service to the people and humanity.
Sanwo-Olu said added that his leadership skills had made the NGE become a highly respected body in the media industry, which is a testament to his vision and exemplary leadership.
“The academy was established to immortalise the name of the first civilian governor of our state whose impact on the generality of our people was outstanding.
“It will provide an avenue for the younger generation to imbibe the responsible and selfless leadership which were the hallmarks of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande both in his private and public lives.”
He said that his leadership programme will offer life-changing, non-partisan and meritocratic opportunities to young Nigerians who desire to impact their generation through public service.
Also, speaking one of Jakande’s children, Mr Seye Jakande called the Lagos state government to rename the state university after him
He noted that a former Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Kayode Fagbohun, had once requested to name the institution after his father.
“We, therefore, appeal to Lagos State Government to revisit the request of renaming the institution after Alhaji Lateef Jakande, who founded the university”.
He said the request is apt, as similar universities established in Ogun and old Bendel states, had been named after their founding governors.
He said the state governments visited LASU to copy the model to establish a similar university.
According to him, the Ogun State Government renamed its university in honour of Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, the first civilian governor.
He added that Edo Government too named the former Bendel State University after Chief Ambrose Alli, the civilian governor of the state.
Jakande also recalled how his father administered the state selflessly without giving any pecuniary benefit of office in favour of any member of his family.
In his welcome address, the NGE President, Mr Eze Anaba, said the Alhaji Lateef Jakande Inaugural Lecture is to honour the great man and to recognize his outstanding achievements.
Anaba said it is important to institutionalize a culture of appreciation which would give the institutional memory to know how they got to where they were and how to build on the legacy of the past.
“His blueprint is everywhere and his shadow covered our industry and his associates and students and those who know him closely about how gigantic he was.
“Many people who know him closely will gladly testify that he is an incredible talent whether as a journalist or as a politician,” he said.
Anaba said Jakande had a response to everything because he devoted his entire professional and political career to advancing the values of liberty and social justice.
He said he also exemplified the value of honesty, integrity and fairness, saying that he told the stories of the needy and held the powerful to accountable.
Also, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Ogun State Governor, who was represented by Kayode Akinmade, said that the maiden memorial lecture has come at a time when Nigeria is in dire need of a developmental drive and democratic culture of the first Civilian Governor of Lagos State and former Minister of Works and housing.
“Baba Kekere’s penchant and uncompromised stance for professionalism and responsible journalism, coupled with his selfless disposition to serve humanity clearly stood him out from his contemporaries and obviously created a larger-than-life image for him in the political space and Nigeria’s media industry.
“Today, we gather here to celebrate and honour the memory of an astute administrator, who combined media savvy with ideological perspectives of progressivism to build a foundation of responsive governance in Lagos State and Nigeria at large.
Also, the chairman of the occasion, retired General Ike Nwachukwu, went down memory lane to recall how he met Jakande and his experience with him.
Nwachukwu said Jakande was a man who is reliable and ready to bring out the best in people around him, adding that he is happy he met and worked with the late icon in the media profession.
