Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has stated that his administration and the people of Lagos will continue to remember Alhaji Lateef Jakande and his achievement in the overall development of the state
Sanwo-Olu said this today while speaking at the maiden edition of the Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture, with the theme “Lateef Jakande: The Man, His Journalism, His Politics” organized by the Nigerian Guild of Editors held at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja.
The governor said the Late Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande demonstrated leadership and selflessness in the service of the people and humanity generally during his lifetime.
Sanwo-Olu who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat noted that in recognition of the good deeds of the first civilian governor of the state and immortalized him, his administration established the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy to unleash the potential of the next generation of leaders.
He said, “The Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy was established to immortalize the name of the first civilian governor of our State whose impact on the generality of our people was outstanding”.
Speaking further, he said the academy will provide an avenue for the younger generation to imbibe the ideals and essence of responsive, responsible and selfless leadership, which were the hallmarks of late Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande both in his private and public lives.
He added that the leadership programme will offer life-changing, nonpartisan and meritocratic opportunities to young Nigerians who desire to impact their generation through Public Service.
Besides, Sanwo-Olu noted that the theme of the lecture is apt and will x-ray his life journey and milestone achievements, which revolve around his profession as a journalist and his calling as a consummate politician. He added that in his profession and calling, Alhaji Jakande demonstrated visionary leadership and selflessness in the service of the people and humanity generally.
He was also of the view that the annual lecture will, in addition to immortalizing the good name of Alhaji Lateef Jakande, espouse his ideas for the coming generation to imbibe in their professional and public service
According to the Governor, “The Nigeria Guild of Editors which has grown to become a highly respected body in the media industry, is a testament to his vision and exemplary leadership”.
Sanwo-Olu therefore commended the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Eze Anaba and members of the Guild for deeming it appropriate to initiate the Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture in honour of one of the founding fathers and first President of the esteemed body sixty-two years ago.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr. Eze Anaba stated that the lecture is to honour Alhaji Lateef Jakande as a great man and recognize his outstanding achievements as a journalist and politician.
While describing him, Mr. Anaba noted that Alhaji Lateef Jakande was an incredible talent, who devoted his entire profession and political career to advancing values of liberty and social justice, exactifying the value of honesty, integrity, courage and fairness and has demonstrated commitment to journalistic freedom and longtime survival.
Speaking further, he added that Alhaji Lateef Jakande founded many institutions which includes: The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the International Press Institute, among others that have been impactful to humanity and the nation at large.
He stressed that “the annual lecture is to honour a great man and to recognize his outstanding achievement, which will at the same time give us an institutional memory to know how the institution got to its present position and how to build on the legacy and accomplishment of the past”.
The president opined that media managers should think innovative, provides sustainable solutions, reposition and re-strategize the face of the media by addressing the impact of new technology in every part of their profession either as a journalist or media practitioner, just as Alhaji Lateef Jakande and his contemporaries did to meet the challenges of their time.
Highlights of the event were the delivery of goodwill messages where many media luminaries and associates of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande eulogized him for his achievements and contributions to the development of journalism and governance in the country.
