December 13, 2022
Press Statement
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congratulates the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Governor Nyesom Wike as he celebrates his birthday today.
Governor Wike is a courageous, passionate and visionary leader; very resourceful administrator and statesman who remains committed in his roles towards the development of our dear nation, Nigeria.
As a committed member of our great Party, the PDP, Governor Wike continues to excel in delivery of landmark and legacy projects in citizen empowerment, human capital and infrastructural development in line with the manifesto, policies and programmes of the PDP, for which he is celebrated across our country and beyond as ‘Mr. Project”.
Our Party notes with pride how Governor Wike repositioned Rivers State with exceptional achievements in critical sectors including road development, electricity, oil and gas, transportation, education, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, security among others for which the Federal Government bestowed on him, the Distinguished Award in Infrastructure Delivery at the 2022 Nigeria Excellence in Public Service Award.
The PDP celebrates Governor Wike on this special day and prays to the Almighty God to bless him with many more years in good health in the service of our country and humanity at large.
Happy birthday, Your Excellency!
Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary
PRESS RELEASE
USE ARTS TO FIGHT SOCIETAL ILLS, DRIVE TRANSFORMATION, SANWO-OLU TELLS ARTISTS
…Reveals Over 3,000 Nigerians Trained Through State’s Creative Initiative
…As First Lady, State Govt Hold Greater Lagos Arts Exhibition
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday emphasized the power of artworks to drive social transformation and serve as a potent vehicle for information and reorientation, calling on artists to deploy their creative skills to fight societal ills.
The Governor spoke at the Greater Lagos Arts Exhibition which was collaboratively organized by the Office of Lagos State First Lady and the State Government through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for young artists to showcase their talents, network with their peers and gain from the experience of veterans through mentorship.
Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat said since assumption of office in 2019, his administration had left no one in doubt about the desire to fully harness the largely untapped potential of the entertainment sector especially the creative arts component, including supporting and encouraging young talented individuals to grow and gain the exposure required to succeed in line with the THEMES Agenda.
“One of the things the state government has also done is to create what we call the Lagos State Creative Initiative. Using that initiative, we have trained over 3,000 Nigerians in different skills including films, and cinematography, among others and we used private sector experts to ensure that the beneficiaries are exposed to the best,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He explained that the art exhibition, with the theme, “Art in and for Transformation,” was designed to feature knowledge-sharing discussions by highly successful and award-winning professionals and that it was one of the several initiatives being implemented by the state government to realize the objectives for the sector.
“The theme of this event speaks to the power of artworks as potent tools to drive and influence social transformation through the message they communicate.
“This is quite instructive as there is the need to utilize different modes and media to effectively communicate messages and ideas, especially those that are meant to change the orientation of the general public on societal ills and their negative effects on the general wellbeing of the society,” the Governor said.
On her part, the First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu said the decision to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture on the exhibition was borne out of the genuine desire to open up opportunities for visual artists who have proven to stand out in their artistic work, adding that arts had been proven to be a powerful tool which helps people communicate with the outer world and better understand their inner selves.
While commending the enormous contributions of artists to socio-cultural and socio-political development, she also challenged them to use their artworks to speak against ills in society, particularly the menace of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
“With these special skills, you are a great contributor to the Tourism and Entertainment pillar of this present administration and this also gives you space under the Education and Technology pillar of the THEMES Agenda of the administration of Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu.
“As opinion molders and great influencers of thought, I challenge you to be deeply involved and commit yourself to support this administration in stamping out the menace of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence from our society through the use of your artworks as a form of campaign against SGBV,” she said.
She also called on the artists to deploy their talents to fight child labour, sexual discrimination, and discrimination based on disability status, as well as enlighten the people on mental health, among others.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm. (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf commended the First Lady for her consistency and commitment which, according to her, ensured that the novel Greater Lagos Arts Exhibition becomes a reality.
She said it had been established that art, in its various forms, is good business that deserves every attention and investment that is channeled towards it, adding that the exhibition was part of the intervention of the state government to give visibility to artists and their artworks in order to further deepen the growth of the creative industry.
In a paper presentation on the transformative power of visual arts, Prof. Kunle Filani said it was gratifying that Lagos had been blessed with a string of proactive and patriotic governors including Sanwo-Olu who continues to make transformational changes and promote visual arts.
To further deepen arts, Filani urged the state government to build its own museum and another iconic gallery of contemporary art, as well as embark on the acquisition of diverse artworks by Nigerian artists to decorate significant offices to promote culture and creativity.
He also advised the government to reignite the teaching of visual arts in secondary schools to ensure future citizens who are creative and people who can make use of critical thinking in their professional endeavors.
The event featured an art exhibition by 30 artists, panel discussion and participation of secondary school students.
OLUBUKONLA NWONAH
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OFFICE OF LAGOS STATE FIRST LADY
13TH DECEMBER 2022
PRESS RELEASE
SANWO-OLU CHARGES SECURITY AGENTS ON CRIME-FREE YULETIDE SEASON
- Launches Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem, appeal fund
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has charged Nigerian Police and other security personnel in the State to work towards a crime-free yuletide season for residents by keeping the State safe during the festive season and beyond.
He made the appeal on Monday while launching the Year 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem and Appeal Fund at the Exco Chambers of the Lagos House, Ikeja.
Governor Sanwo-Olu urged serving security personnel to continue to reflect a high level of service, dedication to the call of duty and professional ethics that guide their profession.
He said: “We appreciate all our service commanders for the job you are doing. We appreciate it and we do not take it for granted. Please continue to uphold the high level of professionalism that we know the Nigerian Military for. Please continue to ensure that whenever you are called upon, you display that professional calling and you help us to continue to keep our state and country safe.
“We also want to encourage the Nigerian Police. Yours is a difficult one because you are in the eye of the storm but we know that Nigerian Police also have crop of professionals, competent and capable men that can rise up to the occasion. As we go into the yuletide season, it is a time when we need to keep our eyes open. We keep saying to our citizens; see something, say something. And together with you, the DSS, and all other security architecture, this is a time we need to ensure that we continue to keep our city and state very safe.
“I want to use this opportunity to encourage and to charge you that this is the time when we need you more. This is when security personnel should be vigilant. All of you that are in the security architecture, please let ensure we are able to provide a crime-free yuletide season for our citizens. This is a season of merriment and appreciating God for coming to the end of another year.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu while congratulating the Nigerian Legion, especially the Lagos State council on another Armed Forces Remembrance Day, praised all the retired military officers, especially the fallen heroes for their meritorious service to the country at one point or the other.
He also congratulated the newly appointed executive of the Lagos State Council of the Nigerian Legion that has just been sworn in to steer the operations of the Council for the next couple of years.
Governor Sanwo-Olu assured continuous support of his administration to the Lagos Council of the Nigerian Legion.
Speaking earlier, the Deputy Commander General and Chairman of Nigerian Legion Lagos State Council, Comrade Akeem Olawale Wolimoh, commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for his consistent immense contributions of various forms to the council and its members, as well as continuous support to ex-servicemen and families of the fallen heroes.
He also expressed the council’s support for the re-election of Governor Sanwo-Olu as well as the presidential bid of the former Lagos State Governor and APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“In the name of Nigeria Legion Lagos Council and its auxiliary arms, all veterans and dependants (widows and orphans) of the fallen heroes of Lagos State, we pray to the Supreme, Eternal, Almighty God in His Omniscience and Omnipotence to grant Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu victory in his second term bid. We also pray that his mentor, our hero and Grand Patron, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu be victorious in his presidential bid come 2023,” he prayed.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
13 DECEMBER 2022
