Don't Gag the Media, Sanwo-Olu Tells Politicians, Public Officers

 

 • As Nge Urges Journalists to Uphold Ethics, Ensure Quality Content

 

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has urged politicians and public office holders not to gag the media, saying press freedom was important in a democracy. 

 

He made the appeal on Thursday at a workshop organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), themed: "Journalist and Digitalisation: the imperative of Good Corporate Governance" at Ikeja, Lagos State.

 

Sanwo-Olu, who was the Special Guest of Honour to declare the workshop open, said ensuring good corporate governance and self-regulation of the digital space would completely eradicate false and fake news.

 

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who assured that his administration will continue to promote Press Freedom and good corporate governance as well as enabling environment for journalists in the state, urged media practitioners to always regulate their activities in the digital space.

 

His words: “I stand with you (media practitioners) in solidarity; to say that, indeed, your profession is not just a noble one, but it’s the one that gives the general public an independent assessment; holding our governance and government accountable at all times. And so, we need to be very careful as politicians and public officers that we do not gag this profession (media) and do not unduly stifle the free press. 

 

“Our government understands and appreciates that press freedom is the way in which we can hold government accountable. But it is also the responsibility of all of us here to ensure that we understand the thin line; and also self-regulate our activities. 

 

“ I cannot agree less with the President of the NGE that says that the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission should not only be independent, it should be equipped with men of impeccable character and integrity that can work like the Oxfam of this world and indeed sanction erring people but give freedom for all of you to do your work.”

 

Governor Sanwo-Olu while stressing the need for media practitioners to self-regulate themselves, urged them to work towards the complete eradication of fake and false news. 

 

“Regarding my view about corporate governance, it is also to ensure that in the digital space we eradicate completely within the profession false news and fake news. People sometimes rush to post something without doing proper due diligence to verify what they are posting and ask themselves what damage would I do if they found out what I posted is not completely true. 

 

“You must be a bit more circumspect and know that once information is out there, you cannot retrieve it. That in itself puts a lot of professional pressure on whoever that is posting any report,” he said.

 

Sanwo-Olu also seeks continuous support from the media for his administration. “I have enjoyed working with all of you and I am looking forward to enjoying more in the remaining part of my four years tenure. And if all of you feel so compelling during the election, I will also not mind being your governor again for another tenure,” he said.  

 

Speaking earlier, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mustapha Issa, said the media would not succumb to pressure from the government to determine the people’s right to information.

 

He said the situation where the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that reports to the Minister of Information would also be the one to unilaterally impose fines on broadcast stations for unfavourable reports was tantamount to gagging the media.

 

The NGE President, who urged media owners to embrace good corporate governance and accountability, said the role of scrutiny of the media should not be that of the government alone, adding that the media should not be threatened.

 

Issa said digital technology has provided room for journalists to become competitive and open sources of income.

 

Also speaking, a veteran journalist and the Chairman of the occasion, Mr Lanre Idowu, said digitalization had brought more opportunities to journalism but has equally brought to the fore the need to uphold ethics, and quality content.

 

He said journalists must decide whether to embrace digital platforms or be out of business.

 

 

Ayoola Oluwaseun Omovo : Art On ‘‘Spotlight’’

Yemi Olakitan

 Ayoola Omovo is a dynamic silhouette painter and part-time visual art instructor at Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur( French School, Lagos, Nigeria) Her differentiating painting approach of utilizing Black and White’’ ink form is noteworthy for the vibrant expressive artistic outcomes. As it also creates enjoyable nostalgia that comes from the early stages of photography development in her paintings.

She is presently the Vice Chairman of the society of Nigerian artists, (SAN) Lagos Chapter. She is the previous coordinator for the southwest zone of the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAAN) among other reputable art associations. Ayoola artworks have been displayed in several exhibitions including, ‘Expressions Kambani London Art, Silverbird Gallery, Lagos, May 2006.

Ayoola was on Spotlight, a two weeks exhibition at Nike Arts Gallery in Lagos.

For a fortnight, her works were on display to various guests and visitors at the gallery. She spoke with Yemi Olakitan on the exhibition, why it is important to her and Mama Nike Okundaye’s contribution to Nigerian arts.

Yemi: What’s this exhibition about?

Ayoola: Spotlight is a series of exhibitions that were created by Mrs Nike Davies Okundaye, fondly called, Mama Nike. This exhibition is about giving a platform for all the artists whose works are showcased at Nike Arts Gallery. It is about all the works that Mama Nike has collected. This means each artist will have two weeks to showcase his or her works to the public. I am the one on Spotlight at the moment. My show will run for two weeks at the gallery and I have the privilege to invite my friends, collectors and colleagues to come, see and buy my work.

It is the first of its kind in Nigeria and the space is absolutely free for the artists. This is so important because it will encourage the artists to grow. Spotlight helps to show all the works of the artists in one piece.

When I put my work together on display even Mama Nike was surprised to see them. She has seen the works so many times, piece by piece but she has not seen all the works at once on display.

This is what an exhibition does for visual artists. One is able to appreciate the works of the artists more because of the variety on display. I am so grateful that Mama Nike gives me the opportunity to showcase my works at the largest art gallery in Africa. I am humbled.

Yemi: Let’s talk about the works on display, the titles and what they mean

Ayoola: ‘‘Yet I Rise” This is one of my works, here at the gallery. It is a storyline about children. It talks about giving them a chance to explore life, sometimes. If you give them the chance to explore, you will be surprised at what they will bring to light or put it in another way, you will be amazed at what they will discover. The picture, I painted was actually my brother’s son. His name is Oluwatobiloba Odupitan.

The second work is, ‘‘The Three Jolly Friends’’ The painting talks about an important lesson of life which is that three young friends cannot play together and stay together forever. Friends don’t stay together forever. At some point, they depart.

‘‘Beyond the Ordinary’’ is a painting of Mama Nike. She has helped many people in the sector. She has opened this place for young artists free of charge. She has been a ladder of success for many Nigerian artists so I painted one of my favourite pictures of her. She is a great woman, full of love, and an inspiration to all.

‘‘Art Therapy’’ is another work of mine on display and it is very dear to me because of the message. Art is therapeutic. It is a healing tool. I remember one time, I painted the children's ward at Lagos State University Teaching University, (LUTH)

It was reported that many of the sick children forgot their pain in the wards. There was a particular child that was reportedly dying of cancer.  When the parents brought her to the ward, her spirits lighted up and she was full of joyful smiles throughout her stay, although, we eventually lost her. Her last moments were not sad or sorrowful as she was dying of cancer. She passed away, happy. 

You can imagine if she had arts in her life long before then, it was possible that she would have lived and would not have developed cancer at all, in the first place. So, this work talks about the therapeutic value of art to humanity. We should have arts in all the hospitals. 

The lady with beads is Titled: My Culture my Heritage, 

Yemi: What message will you like to live behind

Ayoola: Let us protect our culture, let us be proud of our heritage, let us speak our language and teach our children our Culture so that we don't lose our value in the future.

Out Culture is rich and speaks volumes, let's embrace what is ours. Never looked down on any Artist because they are great people. 

Art is Life.

Yemi: Can you mention some of the places you have worked? 

Ayoola: I have spoken in different schools, like Lagoon School Lekki, Caleb British international school Abijo, to mention a few to motivate both the students and parents in other to give the children a chance to explore, buy art materials or colouring books for them, you will discover a lot in them and Arts help to open up their thinking cap and helps in other subjects as well.

At Caleb British international school Abijo, I gave Basil (a pupil )one monthly workshop scholarship on Art when I see his passion and skills in Art during their Art Exhibition 2021, under Adedoyin Bello studio.

Yemi: Who are you grateful to

Ayoola: I am grateful to my parents who have always been my great pillars of support(The Christopher ODUPITAN  family)! and my husband. 

Tee Mac Makes U-turn, says He Was Misquoted

Former President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli has made a U-turn, saying the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is competent to lead Nigeria.

Tee Mac said he was quoted out of context over his private conversation with a Facebook acquaintance, named, Yemi Olakitan, a journalist who announced his support for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Facebook.

Tee Mac had alleged that Tinubu was 86 years old and not 70 and would be too old to lead Nigeria in 2023. The post went viral on social media. Tee Mac, in a statement, said his attention had been drawn to a post that has gone viral on Social Media regarding a private banter with a Facebook acquaintance on the eligibility of Tinubu for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“While it is regrettable that such a private conversation went viral from a Facebook Account, let me state that the conversation was taken out of context.

“In the first instance, I have high regards for the person of the APC Presidential candidate; a two (2)-Term Governor of Lagos State, and a revered leader of the APC. I have lived in Lagos since I relocated from Switzerland, and I can attest to his transformational impact in the state.“More significantly is his ability to identify and engage exceptionally committed technocrats who believe in governance. Asiwaju has led with tangible results over time and maintains relationships with such technocrats, and others across the board. This, I believe will be replicated if he is given the opportunity at the Federal level,” he said. According to Tee Mac, Tinubu’s all-inclusive style of governance has seen people from other states, ethnicities and faith take up appointments in Lagos, serving meritoriously too.

“Consequently, his competence is not in doubt. I only expressed my fear of the rigours of the office.

“I believe anyone can choose any candidate but must ask themselves if they have chosen rightly. This is a pertinent question for everyone. I simply admonished a friend to vote by his convictions,” he said.

Tee Mac added that his only grouse, which he still stood by was that Tinubu sold Buhari to the nation in 2015, and the candidate underperformed, contrary to all expectations.

“The above notwithstanding, I neither have a personal grudge with Asiwaju nor would pursue a path of acrimony with my cousin, Remi Tinubu, whom everyone adjudged pleasant and supportive. Tinubu remains a man I admire regardless of what sycophants have tried to make of my comment,” he added.

SANWO-OLU: WE MUST USE NAFEST 2022 TO GALVANISE, UNITE NIGERIA

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has charged Nigerians to use the forthcoming National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST) Festival as an opportunity to galvanise Nigerians and project unity in the country.

 

He implored Nigerians to see their diversity, ethnicity and religious tolerance as an opportunity to unite without allowing politics and other things to divide them.

Governor Sanwo-Olu made the appeal when the National Technical Committee of the National Festival of Arts and Culture led by the Director-General, National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, paid him a courtesy visit at Lagos House, Ikeja on Thursday ahead of the NAFEST Festival holding in Lagos in November.  

 

He said: “We believe that bringing the NAFEST Festival to Lagos at this very difficult time in our country would be used as a means to galvanise the country. The NAFEST 2022 in Lagos by the grace of God will be used to heal this country. It will be used to bring together our diversity in unity.

 

“If sports can bring us together, arts, culture and entertainment can do better. And if we do it and package it very well before we go into the general elections in 2023, we would have used that platform to heal the country. We would have used it for people to see that we don’t have any other place to go to. We have a responsibility to fix it (Nigeria).

 

“We should see the NAFEST not just as a festivity but as an opportunity for us to come together, heal and project unity for our country. And ensure that if we can go into next year with all of the tribulations and fears that we have; we will suppress them, surpass them and have elections that will be free, and peaceful, and we can build a better and bigger nation that would be the envy of the world. That is what I am looking forward to.

 

“Let us see our diversity as an opportunity to unite us. Let us see our ethnicity as an opportunity to unite us. Let us see our religious tolerance as an opportunity to unite us. We should not allow politics and other things to divide us. I am a strong believer of arts, culture and entertainment as a unifier and simple language that knows no tribe, ethnicity and religious bias.”

 

Governor Sanwo-Olu said Lagos will continue to be a pride for all and a rallying point for Nigeria. “For us as a government, it is really about ensuring that we can use every breath that we have to better the lots of our people; that we can use the opportunity God has given us to recreate a tomorrow for citizens and we can only do that by ensuring that everything that has to do with good governance is the things we are doing.

 

“Lagos will open its arms to ensure a spectacular and hitch-free event and most importantly ensure that we can heal our country; we can stop the bleeding in the country and we can use it (NAFEST festival) as a platform to unite Nigeria,” he said.  

 

Governor Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that Lagos State apart from hosting the NAFEST Festival in November, will also commission the biggest and best African museum, the JK Randle Museum for Arts and Culture and host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and art exhibition in November.

 

Speaking earlier, Runsewe commended Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to promoting tourism, arts and culture, noting that the decision of the government to make Entertainment and Tourism a fifth pillar in the six-pillar THEMES developmental agenda for Greater Lagos is commendable.

 

Runsewe, who noted that no development could take place in Nigeria without Lagos State, called Nigerians to join hands with Lagos to move the country.

 

He said the NAFEST Festival taking place in Lagos in November will be used to unite the nation and preach love among all the citizens of the country.

Tobi Amusan: Athletics coach Ayodele Solaja reveals how he discovered Tobi Amusan

 In 2009, Ayodele Solaja was at the inter-house sports event of Our Lady of Apostles secondary school in Ijebu Ode for his regular scouting rounds for future athletic royalties in the unlikeliest places. Solaja, already an experienced athletics coach, watched as kids sprinted across the dusty tracks and leapt into the dirt in innocent competitiveness. He studied all the children, but one exceptionally tiny Junior Secondary School (JSS) girl caught his eyes the most. The girl did not let her diminutive figure hinder her performance as she left dozens of students, who were twice her size, coughing in the dust left behind by her short heels en route to the finish line. Solaja instantly recognised her as one of the dozens of students he had been giving basic athletics training at the Dipo Dina Stadium in the town. He noted her name. The tiny girl is Tobi Amusan, the first Nigerian to hold a world record in athletics after she was careened to a 12.12-second finish in the semi-final of the 100-meter hurdles at the 2022 World Athletics Championship.

“I was already training her, but that was when I saw her individual talent,” he said.

“I noticed her as a potential athlete.”

Thus, Solaja took a keen interest in the 12-year-old’s ability and consulted her parents to allow their child to join Buka Tiger Athletics Club. “At that time, she was so small. Even though she had that talent, she was tiny,” Solaja said. “We used to call her ‘Shanko’ at that time.”

Solaja unearthed a gem, and through six years of “sensibly pushing her to go beyond human limits,” she began a professional career festooned with prizes and medals and became a world beater.

A former amateur decathlete, Solaja specialised in all events that cover the whole range of athletics disciplines. He once dreamt of a professional career, but due to what he described as “low standard in Nigeria,” it failed to materialise.  Solaja stopped competing in 1996 and started training young athletes. ‘Buka T’, as he is fondly called, forrayed into coaching with a philanthropic philosophy. 

Nigeria is second on the list of countries with the highest number of impoverished people, with over 70 million people living below $2 per day, according to the World Poverty Clock (WPC).

For Solaja, sports was the best way to address the growing poverty in Nigeria.

“I use athletics as a means to elevate people from poverty,” he said. Especially those from humble backgrounds. The level of poverty in Nigeria today is high, and the youths are redundant. And sports is one of the ways that can be used to occupy the time and energy of the teeming youth. It can also help many from humble beginnings, and I know so many of those. It’s a calling for me, and I’ve been able to do so in the lives of so many athletes.”

Solaja founded Buka Tiger Athletic Club in 1997, where he began using his expansive athletics skills and techniques to achieve his altruistic idea.

While sorting the puzzles of his vision, Solaja earned a higher national diploma (HND) in accounting at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in Lagos.

He, however, described the certificate as “one of my greatest mistakes”.“Actually, going into accounting is one of the greatest mistakes I have ever made,” he said. 

“If I had stuck with a sport-related course, I probably would have been a better person than I am right now. I’ve never worked with an accounting certificate. Even when I did not have a coaching certificate, I was already earning salaries as a coach. Sport has always been my calling from the beginning. If someone had advised me earlier enough, I would not have gone for the accounting diploma, and maybe now I would be a professor in one sports-related course.”Refusing to dally on the disappointment of the derailing career move, he had gone to discover and refine track and field athletes who have represented Nigeria at international competitions. He has also been a mainstay in the coaching department of the national athletics team since 2011. 

Solaja’s on-the-track success is, however, not commensurable with his fortune. Despite nurturing Nigerian Olympians, the athletic coach still works as a commercial motorcyclist to provide for his family. 

“I’m a commercial motorcyclist. That’s what I do to survive,” he said.

“I’m not ashamed of it because I have to survive. It’s been tough. I wake up at 5:30 am, hustle till maybe 8:00 am, and then train athletes till 11 am. I go back to hustling after that, return to the stadium around 4:00 pm, and train the school students. I resume hustling around 5:30 pm before I go home.”

In the aftermath of Amusan’s historic feat at the world championship, Solaja revealed how he discovered her talent and his current financial challenges, among other topics, during this chat with TheCable.

TheCable: When did you develop a passion for athletics?Solaja: My passion earlier was football. But along the line, I switched to athletics around 1986. That was when I started competing. First, in the long jump and then the decathlon. I stopped competing in 1996 and picked up coaching in 1997 at the police college ground in Ikeja. That was where I started my training career even though I was an amateur decathlete because the standard in Nigeria is a little bit low compared to the world. 

TheCable: You hold a higher national diploma (HND) in accounting; what made you stick with athletics when you could have gone for a white-collar job?

Solaja: Actually, going into accounting is one of the greatest mistakes I have ever made. If I had stuck with a sport-related course, I probably would have been a better person than I am right now. I’ve never worked with an accounting certificate. Even when I did not have a coaching certificate, I was already earning salaries as a coach. Sport has always been my calling from the beginning. If someone had advised me earlier enough, I would not have gone for the accounting diploma, and maybe now I would be a professor in one sports-related course. 

I use athletics as a means to elevate people from poverty. Especially those from humble backgrounds. The level of poverty in Nigeria today is high, and the youths are redundant. And sports is one of the ways that can be used to occupy the time and energy of the teeming youths. It can also help many from humble beginnings, and I know so many of those. It’s a calling for me, and I’ve been able to do so in the lives of so many athletes. 

TheCable: Have you ever been called to the national team set-ups?Solaja: Yes, I have. I got my first national team call-up in 2011 for the World Youth Championships in Athletics in Lille, France. Before then, I had trained Agnes Osazuwa, who won a medal at the Beijing Olympics. She was part of the Nigerian team awarded silver in the women’s 4×100 meters. I trained from scratch to that level.

In 2013, I was in camp for the World Youth Championships in Athletics in Ukraine. But eventually, I did not make the team. But that was where Tobi and the others started. I had three athletes that went to Ukraine. And later that year, I was also in the national camp for the African Junior Championship in Mauritius. I was on the team for the African Junior Championship in Addis Ababa. Then the 2015 All-African Games in Congo. Also, at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Azerbaijan in 2017 and the African Championships in Asaba the following year. 

TheCable: When did Amusan join Buka Tigers?

Solaja: I can’t say specifically the particular year because it was not a person-to-person thing. But they were a group of student-athletes, and I go to their schools whenever they are doing inter-house sports. I noticed them and invited them to the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode. I used to go to about six schools in Ijebu Ode with over 50 athletes that were coming at that time. But when they had an inter-house sport in Tobi’s school when she was in Junior Secondary School (JSS), I went there and noticed her talent. I was already training her, but that was when I saw her individual talent. I noticed her as a potential athlete. 

I noticed her talent and approached the parents to allow her to come to training. 

TheCable: When you started training her, did you foresee her talent breaking the world record someday? Solaja: At that time, she was so small. Even though she had that talent, she was tiny. We used to call her “Shanko” at that time. But as a coach, I expect the best from your athletes and hope that they can even go further than their talents and strength can carry them. I knew she had the talent to achieve big things in athletics. But world record? No, I was not thinking about that. 

TheCable: How can we ensure that Nigeria can have a steady conveyor belt of talents like Amusan?

Solaja: First and foremost is to get the private sector involved in athletics. We cannot reach our full potential with the government in charge of athletics and sports; because it will not be handled like a business, and this is business. We must eliminate this culture of “no money” or “I’m financing it with my money.” Once the private sector is fully committed, they will always want value for their money. They will always make sure the right pegs are in the right holes. 

We must also make sure that technocrats are in charge of athletes. People that know the system and know where the shoe pinches. We also allow continuity in operations, no break in transmission. 

Also, there must be an enabling environment for athletes to thrive. Facilities and equipment must be made available, exposing these athletes to the right techniques while they are young, particularly in secondary schools.

Like Tobi, she was lucky to be exposed to a good coach right from her secondary school days, and that foundation has helped her to the level she is now. 

TheCable: How is life, and how have you been coping? Solaja: 

I’m a commercial motorcyclist. That’s what I do to survive. I’m not ashamed of it because I have to survive. It’s been tough. I wake up at 5:30 am, hustle till maybe 8:00 am, and then train athletes till 11 am. I go back to hustling after that, return to the stadium around 4:00 pm, and train the school students. I resume hustling around 5:30 pm before I go home. 

Sometimes you find yourself in some kind of situation, and instead of blaming anybody, just try to make the best while hoping things will get better. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to work as a security officer in my community to survive; I was not in a paid job or something. I had to look inward for my family not to starve to death. I did the job for about eight months. 

Culled from the Cable Nigeria

PICTURES: GOV. SANWO-OLU ATTENDS THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY AND OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF LAGOS COMMODITIES AND FUTURE EXCHANGE AT THE UAC BUILDING, MARINA, ON THURSDAY, JULY 28, 2022

 

PIX 4740 L-R: Board member, Lagos Commodities and Future Exchange (LCFE), Alhaji Rasheed Ola Yussuff; Board Chairman, Chief Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu; Executive Commissioner of Operations, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, Mr. Temidayo Obisan representing the Director-General; Dr. Shamsudeen Usman; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Managing Director/CEO of LCFE, Mr. Akin Akeredolu-Ale during the commissioning ceremony and official launch of LCFE at the UAC Building, Marina, Lagos, on Thursday, July 28, 2022.

Board Chairman, Lagos Commodities and Future Exchange (LCFE), Chief Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu; Group Managing Director, GTI GRoup, Alhaji Abubakar Lawal; Managing Director/CEO of LCFE, Mr. Akin Akeredolu-Ale and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the commissioning ceremony and official launch of LCFE at the UAC Building, Marina, Lagos, on Thursday, July 28, 2022.

Board Chairman, Lagos Commodities and Future Exchange (LCFE), Chief Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu, Group Managing Director, GTI GRoup, Alhaji Abubakar Lawal and Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the commissioning ceremony and official launch of LCFE at the UAC Building, Marina, Lagos, on Thursday, July 28, 2022.

 Executive Commissioner of Operations, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Nigeria, Mr Temidayo Obisan representing the Director-General (left); Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu (right); Managing Director/CEO, Lagos Commodities and Future Exchange (LCFE), Mr Akin Akeredolu-Ale (middle) during the commissioning ceremony and official launch of LCFE at the UAC Building, Marina, Lagos, on Thursday, July 28, 2022.

Special Adviser to Lagos Governor on SDGs & Investments, Mrs Solape Hammond; Board Chairman, Lagos Commodities and Future Exchange (LCFE), Chief Onyenwechukwu Ezeagu; LCFE Managing Director/CEO, Mr Akin Akeredolu-Ale; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr Shamsudeen Usman during the commissioning ceremony and official launch of LCFE at the UAC Building, Marina, Lagos, on Thursday, July 28, 2022. 

PHOTOS: GOVERNOR SANWO-OLU MEETS MINISTER FOR INFORMATION AND CULTURE, ALHAJI LAI MOHAMMED AT LAGOS HOUSE, MARINA ON MONDAY, JULY 21, 2022

 

Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu during a meeting at Lagos House, Marina on Thursday, July 21, 2022.

PIX 1109 L-R: Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed receiving a compendium from Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, shortly after a meeting at Lagos House, Marina on Thursday, July 21, 2022.

IX 1319 L-R: Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed being presented with a plaque by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, shortly after a meeting at Lagos House, Marina on Thursday, July 21, 2022.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu (5^th right);  Minister for Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (middle); Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm (Mrs) Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf (4^th right); Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Tayo Ayinde (3^rd right); Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso (2^nd right); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Oyinade Nathan-Marsh (3^rd left) and the entourage of the Minister, during a meeting at Lagos House, Marina on Thursday, July 21, 2022.