Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, has won the award of Excellence in Corporate Governance (Individual Category)/.
Sanwo-olu was awarded by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) Aon after defeating four other contenders to emerge the winner.
Speaking after receiving the award on behalf of Governor Sanwo-Olu, the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri 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 seem to celebrate our achievements but very hasty to criticise our errors as many still believe that we are in the colonial era, where being against the government makes one a hero.
He added that as Nigerians, we should rescue ourselves and do away with this mentality, advising that instead of fighting, we should engage in constructive discussions.
In his words, “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 we are very vigorous in criticising our errors. We still believe that we are in the colonial era where, when you are against government, you are a hero because of the foreigners”.
“But it is high time for us to change that mentality. We must rescue ourselves from this mentality. Instead of fighting, we can engage constructively. We should look for how to solve problems not how to create them. It is a tough time to be in government, particularly in a country like ours. At this period in time, we live in an angry society”, he stated.
Hamzat explained that anger is never the best strategy to finding solutions to problems as it only adds to them.
The Deputy Governor thanked the Institute for honouring the Governor Sanwo-Olu 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, the President/Chairman in Council of the Institute, Mr. Taiwo Gbenga Owookalade, commended the State Governor for the quality leadership he is providing and the harmony that existed in his team.
According to him, the Governor came tops in virtually all the parameters used in rating the nominees, which included two second-term Governors in the country.
While maintaining that the State government has done very well in the provision of developmental projects and delivery of dividends of democracy, he urged the administration to continue in the tradition of excellence and good governance.
Mr. Owookalade said the institute is reputed as a leading voice of corporate governance, dedicated to enhancing governance in the country and worldwide.