Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has declared his commitment to reviving the Office of Public-Private Partnerships in tune with global standards.
Speaking at the year 2024 Retreat organised by the Office of Public Private Partnerships (OPPP) for staff, held at the Black Diamond Hotel, Ozumba Mbadiwe in Victoria Island Lagos, the Governor said the purpose of his visit to the event is to rub minds with the Management and the entire staff of the office in order to build back the agency quicker, faster and better so that it can impact positively on the people of Lagos State and Nigeria at large.
Soliciting staff cooperation, Mr. Governor said the Office was established through his initiative in 2007 when he was the former Commissioner for the Ministry of Establishment Training and Pension and since then it has never been properly handled as initially planned.
He explained further that the main objective of the Office is to bring succour and relief to the citizens in terms of providing adequate infrastructures and social amenities by partnering with private stakeholders that would provide funds to finance government-owned projects through the PPP model.
He, therefore, implored all the PPP staff to use the gathering as a ladder and work as a team to build and revive the office together with him so that the aim and objectives can be achieved quickly. He charged them to be dedicated, focused and ready to revive the lost integrity of the office.
The Special Adviser (Legal), Mrs. Bukola Odoe, in her opening remarks, welcomed all the distinguished staff on board and sought their unwavering cooperation, dedication, and commitment to achieving set goals together in line with the THEMES Plus Agenda of Mr. Governor.
She advised that all hands must be on deck, saying that there is no room for negligence. She also explained that the era of bureaucracy would not be entertained as all officers must be ready to participate in any assigned task in respect of the office they occupy.
Odoe asserted that teamwork is the key to building any organisation that wants to sustain its integrity, economic stability and meeting up with the people’s expectations by providing a high level of infrastructure that will accommodate more investors in Lagos State.
The Special Adviser also reiterated that the level of performance is not just measured by being effective but by exemplary behaviour, saying, “Every project we undertake, every partnership we foster, every policy we implement is a testament to our dedication to flying the flag of the state to a greater height in all ramifications which must align with the theme of the retreat, Wellness and Mindfulness”.
The former Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Dr. Samuel Egube, who was a gesture speaker at the Retreat, explained the need for all the participants to be able to distinguish themselves from the normal way of operating in the public service sector, they should be ready to go at length in building a relationship with Banks, Oil companies and Legal firm.
He added that this would increase the IGR and meet up with the economic development growth of the state despite any unforeseen occurrences in the future.
Speaking in the same vein, the Chairman, House Committee on the Office of Public-Private Partnerships, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun, who also represented the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, explained the role of the House Committee on PPP towards actuallsing its sustainability.
He said the role of his Committee is to supervise, investigate and oversee the overall budget of the Office before its presentation to the Lagos House of Assembly to avoid any hindrances and smooth operation of the Office. He therefore urged the participants to put in their best by sharing ideas, being proactive and working with passion in order to enable the office to function well.
Other Speakers at the event include Mr. Akintayo Sanwo-Olu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Corporate Finance and Strategic Investment; Mrs. Oyindamola Egbeyemi and Mr. Martin Ayeni of Saskia Co; Mrs. Adejoke Odocha and Mr. Wolemi Esan-Olaniwun Ajayi, Legal Practitioners.
