At the time of the Cuban missile crisis in October 1962, many Americans did not know how President John Kennedy would handle the challenge until they saw the composition of his war cabinet. The names gave them hope that the US would emerge from the crisis with some measure of success and hope for a world without a global conflagration. And indeed, President Kennedy steered America and the world from a destructive Third World War, which would have been fought with nuclear weapons.
That is the way I see the nominees for the cabinet of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State. They offer hope that truly the state and its citizens are in for refreshing times, when there would be a revolutionary trend in the delivery of democratic dividends and the provision of good things of life. This is what the future of Lagos State holds in store under the unfolding cabinet.
For sure, the anxiety which trailed the release of the cabinet list for the state has been replaced with excitement prompted by the names on the list. While their portfolios are not yet known, the resumes of the proposed cabinet nominees have been receiving strong and positive reviews in many quarters.
At a glance, the list is made up of one professor, three medical doctors, two engineers, six lawyers, a journalist and one teacher.
There is a healthy mix of technocrats, strategists and politicians on the list. The list is made up of fresh faces and a few returning commissioners. Also, there are five women, three former commissioners and five politicians on the list.
Professor Ademola Abass is a Professor of Law, with specialty in International Law, International Criminal Law, Equity and Trusts, Peace and Security. He has served on United Nations projects in Belgium and Ethiopia. Until his appointment, he was the Head of African Centre for Peace and Security Training, Institute for Security Training in Addis Ababa. Abass has received several academic awards, prizes and scholarships in his career.
The other lawyers in the cabinet are Dr. Benson Oke Akintola, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, Mrs. Yetunde Onabule, Adeniji Kazeem and Prince Rotimi Ogunleye. Dr. Akintola and Adeniji Kazeem are both political scientists and lawyers. Adeniji Kazeem started out as a Tax and Regulatory Consultant with Arthur Andersen (now KPMG) before veering off to start his own legal practice. Onabule obtained her LL.B at the University of Buckingham and her LL.M at the University of London, Kings College, and has over 15 years’ experience gained working for reputable firms in Nigerian and the United Kingdom.
The name of the former Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olajide Idris, stands out amongst the medical doctors on the cabinet. He was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health from 1999 to 2007 when he was appointed the Commissioner for Health in the second term of the former governor Babatunde Fashola administration. He is best remembered for his role in the battle to suppress the Ebola Virus in 2014.
Another doctor on the list is Dr. Samuel Babatunde Adejare, a former federal and state legislator. A highly respected medical doctor and specialist in Public Health, Adejare has received many honours locally and abroad for his commitment to the practice. He was a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly from 2003 till 2011 and was in the Federal House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015.
Dr. Femi Onanuga is a vastly experienced medical doctor with specialty in general medicine and community health. He has diverse and rich experience in medical management and administration in the health sector of Lagos State. A former Permanent Secretary, Special Services in the Governor’s Office, he has been at various times the Medical Director of Randle General Hospital, Surulere; Mainland Hospital, Yaba; Ifako Ijaiye; Agege and consultant to the Lagos State Health Service Commission.
Lagosians who are bothered by the state of the roads in the state now have reasons to smile going by the profiles of the two engineers on the cabinet list. Mr. Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson is an accomplished civil and structural engineer with over 30 years’ experience. Engr. Johnson holds a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Civil and Structural Engineering from the University of Southern California. He is said to have a strong record of conceiving, initiating and executing road, bridge and building projects.
He was a former Special Adviser on Works and Infrastructure in the State and during his time initiated and completed projects like the Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge, reconstruction of Lagos-Badagry Expressway Lot 1, infrastructural improvement of Yaba to Iddo and environs as well as the construction of jetties and terminals at Badore, Ipakodo-Ikorodu and Osborne. He served on the boards of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Lagos State Roads, Bridges and Highway Infrastructure (PSP).
Engr. Ade Akinsanya, like Engr. Johnson, was educated in America. He has a B.Sc. in Mining Engineering and an M.Sc. in Civil Engineering, both from the University of Missouri-Rolia. He specialises in transportation infrastructures, particularly bridge design and construction, transportation planning and construction of various types of transportation facilities. He was, before this appointment, Supervising Bridge Engineer with California Department of Transportation.
Being a financial technocrat himself, Governor Ambode has selected a crop of bright, young and finance professionals for his cabinet. Dr. Mustapha Abiodun Akinkunmi is a financial economist and technology strategist. He holds degrees from the New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury and Fordham University, Bronx, New York. Akinkunmi has held high profile positions as a consultant, financial advisor and business strategist with AT & T, Goldman Sachs, Phibro Energy, First Boston (Credit Suisse), World Bank and Central Bank of Nigeria.
Akinyemi Ashade is an Audit Partner with KPMG Professional Services (formerly Arthur Andersen) and is responsible for the Audit of banking, insurance and assets management companies. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, he joined Arthur Andersen in 1999 and was admitted as a Partner in 2013. He has gained valuable experience in international audit, risk management, public finance and private partnerships.
Babatunde Fuad Durosinmi-Etti is an investment banker turned finance and public policy consultant. His experience includes a banking career where he rose to the position of Deputy General Manager. He was Managing Director of Ibile Holdings Limited, the investment company of Lagos State and later Vice Chairman of the Association of African Financial Institutions, an affiliate of the African Development Bank. He has been on the boards of Volkswagen of Nigeria, LASACO Insurance Plc and University Press Plc.
Olufemi Adeboye Odubiyi is an Information Technology expert. He is presently the IT Director of Dangote Group. Before then he worked for Airtel, holding many key positions such as Systems Support Manager, Head IT and Director Billing and Value Added Services. He holds an M.Sc. in Information Management from Southbank University.
The new Lagos State cabinet also has the names of Dr. Dayo Mobereola and Wasiu Anifowoshe. Mobereola is a transport expert and holds a Doctorate degree in Transport Economics from the University of Wales. He is the Managing Director/Chief Executive of LAMATA and was previously Special Adviser, Transportation. Anifowoshe is an architect and town planner. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Architecture from Howard University, as well as a Masters in City and Regional Planning. He is the Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners and has worked in the Lagos State Ministries of Works and Housing and Physical Planning and Urban Development.
Other professionals on the list are senior and celebrated journalist, Steve Ayorinde; Fela Bank-Olemoh and sport analyst, Ayodeji Tinubu.
It is a team capable of installing the governance of compassion which Ambode spoke of in his inaugural address on May 29. The Governor also spoke of the rule of ideas that will characterise his era. My take is that he has picked kindred spirits who have been identified as men of ideas in their respective endeavours. Together I see them – Ambode and these illustrious personalities – working out an agenda to lift up Lagos State to the stratosphere of excellent performance the way John Kennedy’s war cabinet gave the US and the world victory over the war mongers during the Cuban missile blockade.
PUNCH
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