As part of measures to foster infrastructure and health development in the society, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, the chief of staff to the president, recently inaugurated the legacy projects he facilitated in Surulere Federal Constituency during his tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Precious Ugwuzor writes
Inspired by a sense of duty and part of measures to foster infrastructure and health development in the society, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila (CFR), the chief of staff to the president, recently inaugurated the legacy projects he facilitated in Surulere Federal Constituency during his tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Urging those who seek public office to remember that the ultimate and highest legacy they can leave as public servants is an evident improvement in the lives of the people that they serve, the chief of staff was joined by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu to inaugurate series of the legacy projects.
According to Gbajabiamila, the projects across Surulere Federal constituencies and the state were inspired by a sense of duty, adding that while lawmakers perform an important role as law and policymakers, there is also an important function of ensuring that the resources of government go towards meeting the most pressing needs of the local constituencies they represent.
He noted: “The projects we are commissioning today and tomorrow speak to my efforts to meet the expectations of our people in this regard.”
Legacy Projects
The legacy projects that were recently inaugurated cut across infrastructure, education and health. They include the Femi Gbajabiamila Conference Center LASU, OJO, Lagos; dualised Babs Animashaun Road and Census Bridge, Surulere, Lagos; Sam Shonibara Community Development Center, Surulere, Lagos; Femi Gbajabiamila General Hospital, Iyun Road, Off Funsho Williams Ave. Surulere, Lagos; Femi Gbajabiamila Hall of Residence, University of Lagos, Akoka; and National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Surulere Campus.
Others include Bode Thomas Police Station, Head Quarters Census Area, Surulere, Lagos; reconstruction of “Randle Avenue, Road,” Surulere, Lagos; and Femi Gbajabiamila Mini Stadium, Orile, Coker Aguda LCDA, Surulere, Lagos.
Need for Robust Health Services
Highlighting the need for robust health services, the chief of staff emphasised the crucial link between health and productivity, just as he stressed the responsibility of public servants to ensure citizens’ access to quality healthcare in conducive environments.
At the unveiling of the Femi Gbajabiamila General Hospital, the hospital’s impressive features were unveiled—a facility seated on 5000 square meters with 80 beds, sophisticated laboratory services including a CT SCAN, 32 slice theaters, dialysis rooms, and pediatric wards.
The hospital, designed with a focus on sustainability, boasts power supply from a 300KvA Generator backed up by a 100KvA Solar Generator on the rooftop. Additionally, it features a water filtration system, exemplifying international standards in healthcare services.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, who expressed profound gratitude for the successful completion of these projects, assured proper maintenance of the facilities and recruitment of staff to initiate operations, promising a fully functional 80-bed hospital to serve the community.
The commissioned projects mark a significant stride towards enhancing health infrastructure and overall development in Lagos, reflecting the commitment to fostering a healthier and more prosperous future for its residents.
Transition to Knowledge-based Economy
Accentuating the paramount need of steering Nigeria towards a knowledge-based economy, Right Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, Ph.D., speaker of the House of Representatives, officially inaugurated the Femi Gbajabiamila Hall of Residence at the University of Lagos.
At the University of Lagos Main Campus, Akoka, Yaba, where the 484-bed Landmark Students Hostel stands, Rt. Hon. Abbas emphasised Nigeria’s transformation into a knowledge-based economy, just as he lauded the increased budget allocation for the education sector and the upcoming N50 billion students’ loan scheme, crediting these accomplishments to the efforts of Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, the donor behind the students’ hostel. The speaker said the hostel is a symbol of commitment to eliminating barriers to education.
Praising the intellect and unwavering dedication of the chief of staff, Abass said the residence is a milestone in educational empowerment and physical development, citing UNILAG’s distinguished status among higher education institutions.
Addressing the critical role of a knowledge-based economy in national development, Hon. Abbas denounced Nigeria’s over-reliance on oil and gas, advocating policies fostering renewable energy, agriculture, solid minerals, and intellectual capacities.
He pledged the House of Representatives’ support for innovation, intellectual property protection, AI regulation, digital literacy promotion, and business-friendly policies, emphasising a culture of research and development.
In his remarks, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila said the hall of residence is an addition to the joint efforts of sustaining UNILAG’s vision, adding that the project is his commitment in nurturing a generation fostering intellectual curiosity and problem-solving skills.
Commending the initiative, Minister of state for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, Senator Wasiu Sanni-Eshinlokun, and Lagos West Senatorial District representative showered accolades on Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, praising his wisdom and contribution to national development.
Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe FAS, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, traced the project’s genesis to 2019, acknowledging Hon. Gbajabiamila’s unwavering support and magnanimity towards UNILAG. He recounted the intervention and subsequent execution of the hostel project, affirming the Speaker’s personal involvement in overseeing its progress.
The Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, expressed gratitude to Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for addressing the accommodation challenge at the university and creating a diverse, socio-culturally harmonised environment for students.
The formal inauguration concluded with the Speaker officially opening the Femi Gbajabiamila Hall of Residence, flanked by dignitaries, marking a significant milestone in the university’s pursuit of educational excellence.
Boost for LASU
At the inauguration of the Femi Gbajabiamila Conference Centre at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, the chief of staff, who dedicated the project to the glory of God and the people of Lagos State, thanked the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for his support and collaboration over the years.
He said without the partnership of the state government it would have been much more difficult and impossible to achieve the mission for the project being developed.
He said: “To remember that the ability to get things done in government requires experience and pedigree, takes time and demands that they manage expectations accordingly. I have long realised the importance of education. I have always believed that an uneducated generation is a wasted generation. I want to see this as an investment in the youth. No amount of money will be too much for the education of our youth.
“The Conference Centre creates an enabling environment for study. The building is the enabling environment that it creates for our students and that makes it what it is. This project speaks to my efforts to meet the expectations of my people in this regard.”
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also promised to invest more in education to ensure the youth have quality education for a brighter future, adding that the initiative is a testimony to what well-meaning individuals could do to support public institutions and contribute to the public good, adding that the government would continue to initiate policies that would attract investors in tertiary education in the state.
Commending Gbajabiamila for the donation, Vice Chancellor of LASU, Professor Ibiyemi Tunji-Bello, solicited the support of other well-meaning individuals to make the institution the best in Nigeria and Africa.
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While lawmakers perform an important role as law and policymakers, there is also an important function of ensuring that the resources of government go towards meeting the most pressing needs of the local constituencies they represent