L-R: Lagos State deputy governor Dr. Idiat
Oluranti Adebule, Governor Akinwunmi
Ambode, Professor Wole Soyinka and Dr
Rasheed Gbadamosi on Wednesday
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode
has appointed appointed Nobel Laureate,
Professor Wole Soyinka and Mr. Rasheed
Gbadamosi as Co-Chairmen of the Lagos at 50
Planning Committee, While inaugurating the Committee at the Lagos
House, Ikeja, on Wednesday, Amobde expressed
confidence in their ability to deliver a world class
celebration.
“Lagos State will be 50 years next year. 50 years
is a significant landmark in the life of any
individual, institution or State. For Lagos State, it
has been an eventful 50 years which deserves to
be fittingly celebrated,” Ambode said. He added that the event will afford the state
opportunity to celebrate its past achievements
and showcase its immense potentials for future
growth and development to the world.
The Committee also has 10 others as members,
including Hon. Habeeb Fasinro, Chief Olawale
Cole, Mrs. Sarah Boulos, Mr. Abimbola Obafunwa,
Prof (Mrs) Senapon Bakare, Mrs. Chika Balogun,
Mr. Folarin Coker, Prof. Ademola Abass, Bolanle
Austen Peter and Mrs Olufunmilayo Balogun as Secretary. Ambode said despite the state being the oldest in
Nigeria, remains the only state that has not been
divided to create more states since its inception
on May 27, 1967. He added that Lagos State has
maintained its status as the commercial capital of
Nigeria and the most cosmopolitan State in the country where peoples of every tribe, race and
creed reside peacefully with an excellent record
of religious tolerance.
“Lagos is a land of opportunities, offering all
residents the chance to succeed in their
vocations and endeavours. Lagos provides jobs
to more people than any other State in Sub
Saharan Africa. Lagos is that place where you
have a chance to make it if you work hard. “Indeed, Lagos State has justified its creation.
Apart from being the pacesetter and first among
equals in the comity of States in the Nigerian
Federation, Lagos State also occupies a
noticeable position in global affairs especially as
the fastest growing mega city in the world.
“With all these in mind, it is imperative that we
celebrate Lagos at 50. In celebrating Lagos, we
must showcase our cultural heritage. We must
celebrate the language, arts, sights and sounds
of Lagos. Celebrating Lagos is to celebrate
Nigerian Unity and Progress because Lagos provides the cohesion that keeps Nigeria
together”, he said.
He said a celebration of such great significance
requires proper and adequate planning, hence
the inauguration of the Committee comprising
respected men and women whom he said had
perfect understanding of the expectations of
Lagosians, Nigerians and indeed the entire world. The Governor further said with the distinguished
men and women that formed the Committee, he
was rest assured that Lagos would be excellently
celebrated and the world would see Lagos in its
full splendour. The terms of reference of the Committee ,
according to Governor Ambode, include to
develop a comprehensive programme for the
celebrations; identify series of events that will
take place as part of the celebrations; establish
the logistics requirements to ensure a hitch free celebration; identify areas of possible
collaboration with corporate organizations and
individuals for support; as well as consider and
make appropriate recommendations on any
other matter that will ensure a successful and
memorable celebration.
In his short remarks, Professor Soyinka said the
celebration of Lagos at 50 would afford an
excellent opportunity for the state to identify
with the triumph, losses and experience of the
Black Race at home and in the diaspora. He pledged that members of the Committee
would work assiduously to ensure that Lagos
gets the deserved and most befitting celebration. While acknowledging the achievements of the
state so far, Professor Soyinka likened the
celebration to one of the programmes in past
editions of Lagos Black Heritage Festival called
the ‘Black in the Mediterranean Blue’, saying “It
would be used to project the black race not just for the colonial experience and slave trade, but
also as a cultural people.”
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Soyinka, Gbadamosi head Lagos @50 planning committeeCreated at 2016-02-10
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