Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has received the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria, ICSAN, Award of Excellence in Corporate Governance, Individual Category, after defeating four other contenders to emerge winner.
According to the President/Chairman in Council of the Institute, Taiwo Owookalade, the Governor came top in virtually all the parameters used in rating the nominees which included two second-term Governors in the Country.
Speaking after receiving the award on behalf of Governor Sanwo-Olu, his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat called on Nigerians to shun anger and fighting but engage constructively in finding lasting solutions to the myriads of challenges and issues facing the country.
The Deputy Governor stated that as citizens we are very harsh with ourselves and don’t seems to celebrate our achievements but very hearty to criticize our errors as many still believe that we are in the colonial era where when you are against government you are a hero.
He stated that as Nigerians, we should rescue ourselves and do away with this mentality, saying that instead of fighting, we should engage constructively.
He said, “One of the things I have seen as a citizen, is that, we are very harsh with ourselves as a people and we don’t seem to celebrate our achievements but very hearty to criticize our errors. We still believe that we are in the colonial era where, when you are against government, you are a hero because foreigners are ruling us but should we not change that mentality? Because we are here and we must change, we must sort of rescue ourselves of this mentality. Instead of fighting, we can engage constructively. We should look for how to solve problems not how do we create it.
Speaking further, he said, it is a tough time to be in government particularly in a country like ours, at this point in time as the world is now an angry place and we live in an angry society.
He therefore urged that anger is never the best strategy in finding solution to problems as it only adds to it and is a time waster. He said, “Anger is never a strategy. It is just a waste of time.”
Hamzat thanked the Institute for honouring the governor with the award saying that it is gratifying to note that giving all challenges in the country, an institute is still looking at details and coming up with ways to encourage technocrats.
Earlier in his remarks, Owookalade, commended the state governor for the quality leadership he is providing in the State and the harmony that existed in the team that leads the state.
While stating that the state government has done very well in the provision of developmental projects and delivery of dividends of democracy in the state, he urged the state government to continue in the tradition of excellence and good governance.
Owookalade stated that the institute is reputable as a leading voice of corporate governance, dedicated to enhance governance in the country and worldwide.